Volunteer Bridge Guard Has Saved 144 Lives

Patrolling the Nanjing Bridge, which spans China’s Yangtze River, is Chen Si, aged 40, who for the last few years has saved 144 lives.

This very special lifeguard wears no uniform, isn’t paid anything for his work and has never even gotten wet in the course of his self-appointed duties.

It all started back in 2003 when an elderly neighbor committed suicide. Guilty thoughts of why he hadn’t talked with him or visited invaded his mind and Chen decided to reach out to those troubled others who might be contemplating suicide.

He went to the Nanjing Bridge, a landmark notorious for its many suicide jumpers. More than 1,000 people have jumped to the death from this bridge since it opened some 40 years ago.

He stationed himself there whenever he could, patrolling the perimeters. One day, he found a man who was crawling over the railing. Chen grabbed him and pulled him back to safety. Chen talked the man who had lost all his money to a con man out of jumping and gave him bus fare to return to his wife and children.

As he patrols via motor-bike, which now is every weekend, he wears a billboard, which reads on one side: “You only have one life, please give yourself a chance. The sun is bound to shine brighter tomorrow.” It also features a red heart in the middle and telephone numbers.

Since Chen’s arrival at the bridge, some suicide hotlines have been set up in the area, but they are office-based and Chen is convinced that face to face interaction is the only way to talk someone out of taking their own life.

“In a time of crisis, all people really need is one person willing to lend a hand. It could make the difference between life and death”, says Chen.

“This bridge needs people like him. Without him, I would not be here today,” says Shi Xiqing, a would-be jumper who is now a personal friend of Chen’s.

Reaching out to someone in need is a fundamental human principle.

So little can do so much.

Kudos to Chen for caring…

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