Jogger Hangs On Tight, Thwarts Suicide : ‘You Have Friends,’ He Tells Woman Trying to Leap From Bridge

A jogger was credited by police with saving the life of a despondent woman Tuesday by holding on to her legs as she tried to jump off the so-called “suicide bridge” in Pasadena, screaming, “I have nothing to live for.”

David Stewart, 52, part owner of a Bell Gardens swimwear factory, and his wife, Joan, 51, were jogging on the Colorado Boulevard bridge over the Arroyo Seco channel at 6:20 a.m. when they saw a heavy-set woman climb over the bridge railing in an apparent attempt to jump, police said.

Stewart ran over and reached through the railing, grabbing the woman’s legs. He held on while his wife summoned authorities.

Rookie Pasadena Police Officer Randell Taylor was on patrol nearby and responded. Taylor said he joined Stewart and grabbed the woman’s upper body and arms.

‘Let Me Go!’

“The woman kept struggling, screaming, ‘Let me go! Let me go! I have nothing to live for. I have no friends,’ ” Taylor, 22, said. “But he (Stewart) was cool. He held on and kept telling her, ‘You have friends. I’m here. This officer’s here. Let’s get you to the other side of the railing and we’ll talk about it. . . . ‘ “

With the help of Pasadena Fire Department paramedics, the 34-year-old woman, whose identity was not released by police, was helped to safety. Officers later estimated that Stewart held on to the woman for nearly 20 minutes.

She was counseled by a psychiatrist and later released to her husband.

For his part, Stewart, who said he jogs four miles a day, was hesitant to talk at length about his role in the rescue.

‘A Sad Experience’

“It was a sad experience,” he said. “She told her problems and I told her I had problems too. I told her how dreadful suicide is. That was my first rescue and I hope it’s my last.”

Taylor said the bridge has attracted many suicide attempts over the years.

A man jumped off the bridge three weeks ago, he said. “I got there too late.”

Since 1919, at least 96 people have committed suicide by jumping off the bridge into the channel about 300 feet below, police records show. The bulk of the suicides--79--occurred between 1919 and 1937.