2 jumpers, 1 lives.
This is the famous Sunshine Skyway bridge.
This morning, two different women attempted to take their lives from the top of the span.
Published: September 28, 2007TAMPA - One of two women who jumped from the Sunshine Skyway bridge this morning survived the fall, according to a news release from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office on the separate incidents.
The woman, in her 80s, was found alive in the water by the Coast Guard after she jumped at 8:38 a.m. She was taken to Anna Maria Island.
The octogenarian parked at the south end of a span and left a suicide note in her car.
Another woman jumped over the rail at 7:22 and hit the rocks below, Carter said. The woman, in her 40s, parked her car in the center of the span and left a note inside.
Deputies are on scene. It's unknown if the two jumps were related.
This bridge is well known for suicides, and many people try it every year.
Since 1987, 96 people have taken their lives by jumping from the center span.
There's even a jumper pool website, (*WARNING* may be offensive) that keeps track of the suicides and allows users to guess how many suicides there will be in a year.
I was just surprised to see an 80 year old woman try to end her life from the bride this morning.
I can only imagine why she felt like that was her only way out. She's lived a long life, and one has to wonder, what would bring her to the span this morning.
Comments
Pills woulda been easier and less public, but then again, not everyone has access to enough pills.
Remind me about that in approx. 10 years.
Thanks.
(Seriously? Poor lady. I wonder about her state of mind, depression? Sad.)
Posted by: terry | September 28, 2007 2:10 PM
That sucks. I can't imagine ever being that desperate. Btw, I've driven over that bridge and it scared the hell out of me.
Posted by: Brandi | September 28, 2007 2:55 PM
That really is sad. I guess I have more sadness about the elderly woman. At that age, you must wonder if she lost her husband and was too sad or something like that.
Posted by: Lori | September 28, 2007 5:53 PM
I always find it very sad when someone chooses suicide as the answer. Not because it's selfish like so many other people think, but because they feel their life is no longer worth living for whatever reason.
I don't think suicide is selfish at all.
I think it's more selfish of the surviving family members to be pissed at the suicide person.
The person chose to live their lives, and leave their life for their own reasons. They had every right to live as they saw fit, and die as they saw fit, but suicides in general are just sad.
They were hurting inside and if only people had known, maybe someone could have helped them find a reason to live.
Posted by: Kat | September 28, 2007 10:14 PM
Damn, the survivor was in her 80s? Geez. Why not just wait the rest of your life out? Not that I know what was going on with her, but it just seems weird to try to kill yourself at that age.
Posted by: Devilish Southern Belle | September 28, 2007 11:58 PM
The ones who are serious about taking their lives would aim for the cement bases, not the water...
Posted by: Craig Hansen | September 30, 2007 1:53 AM