USS Carl Vinson Sailor Helped Talk Bridge Jumper Down

David Lawrence, assigned to the USS Carl Vinson, stopped on the bridge a week ago after spotting an older gentleman considering suicide June 19.

Lawrence, an aviation boatswain's mate (Fuel) 1st Class, was the first person to help a 60-year-old man at about 4 a.m. that day while on the way to the gym. He thought the man had a flat tire, he told Navy.mil.

“I try to help anybody I can. What comes around goes around - I sincerely believe that,” Lawrence told Navy.mil. “Somebody is returning the favors. My health is good. My family's health is all good. [So I take] any opportunity I get to help somebody.”

Lawrence said he stayed at the scene even after the authorities, including negotiators, arrived. A lot of the time, he told Navy.mil, he talked about his experiences in the service.

In the end, after nearly three hours on the bridge, the man decided to step back and leave the bridge. The authorities, Lawrence said, told him the man was grateful to him.

“I'd do it again today, if I had to,” Lawrence said. 

The bridge saw a three attempts in a roughly 36-hour period last week. , including the one Lawrence aided, but a .

For more, see Navy.mil.