A tiff with her husband instigated a 23-year-old woman to try to end her life by jumping off the connecting road near the Bandra-Worli Sea Link on Saturday. It was an alert taxi driver who informed the police, and the timely action of a constable that saved the woman’s life.

At 11.15, Jalpa Patil, a resident of Kandivli, told the taxi driver to stop the vehicle a little before the Worli-end of the sea link, claiming she had dropped her purse. The unsuspecting driver stopped the taxi and watched as she jumped into the sea. He then raised an alarm

Gunahji Patil, 52, a constable with the Worli police station, got a call on his wireless about the incident. “We reached the spot in four minutes and without thinking of how dangerous it was, I jumped into the sea from a height of 20ft,” Patil said.

“I am happy I saved her though I injured my leg. My son, a national swimming champion, was angry with me for trying out such a stunt at my age.” Both Pujari and Patil were rushed to Poddar Hospital, where they were discharged after treatment.

The police later learnt that Pujari, who has a three-year-old daughter, had left home after having an argument with her husband. Her family has been informed about the incident.

Pujari’s husband, Pushparaj, works with a private firm in Mangalore. The couple had separated a few months ago and has already filed for divorce. “We have not registered a case. We have talked to her and asked her not to take such a drastic step in future as she has to take care of her daughter,” said Deepak Pawar, senior police inspector. The police commissioner has presented a cheque of Rs30,000 to Patil for his bravery.