Construction crew rescues suicidal man who jumped from Fore River Bridge

BOSTON — The Quincy Fire Chief says constructions workers who saved the life of a suicidal man are heroes.

The crew was working on a project underneath the Fore River Bridge when the man plummeted into the water Thursday morning.

"If they had not been there, it would have been disastrous," Quincy Deputy Chief Tim Burchill said. "They were the true heroes of the day."

For the man who felt everything in his life was wrong, these workers were in the right place at the right time.

"Basically, a fellow came up, drove his car, parked it to the side of the road, they started shouting they couldn’t park there," Chief Burchill said. "He got out of his car and he jumped over the bridge."

Workers from J.F. White Construction were shoveling snow on the Fore River Bridge while another crew was working on a boat in the water underneath.

Chief Burchill says when the man jumped over the bridge railing, the snow removal crew immediately dialed 911 while the men on the barge leapt into action.

"With all the noise and commotion and yelling on the scene, they were right there and able to get the fellow right out of the water," the chief said.

Using a skiff, two workers motored over and grabbed the man from the water, which was about 35 degrees. Even though he survived the fall, fire officials say the man could easily have drowned in the icy conditions.

"He was very fortunate the people were there at the right time for him," Chief Burchill said.

He was able to walk away without injury, leaving those workers shaken by what they witnessed but grateful they could help when it mattered most.

"He had a little laceration to his nose, other than that, he was able to walk on his own up to the ambulance," Chief Burchill said. "They did a great job, they were the true heroes there."

A representative from J.F. White told us they didn’t want to comment on the incident.

Cox Media Group