Wayne bowlers stop man from suicide attempt on bridge

WAYNE, Mich. (WJBK) - A daring rescue was caught on camera Thursday night. A man who was seemingly suicidal drove to the bridge over Michigan Avenue, tied a cord around his neck and was on the verge of jumping off.

A pair of league bowlers from the Wayne Bowl lounge saw what was happening and approached him - and saved his life.

"At first I thought it was a joke until I saw something tied around his neck," Ian Klosner says. "I just kept stepping closer as I was talking, hoping he wouldn't notice. Then he noticed. He said, 'Don't take another step or else I'll jump'. And I stopped."

Klosner says he saw his friend crossing the street coming up on the other side.

"I waved my hands, I did what I could until he showed up," Klosner says. "Once he got there, I knew either he was getting him or, if [the man] looked back I was getting him."

Ian's friend Chris Chupa approached the man from the other side, distracting him, giving Ian the chance to tackle the man before he could take that fateful leap.

"Once I got him down, he said,' I'm not going to do it, just let me go; let me go," Klosner says. "I'm like, 'No.' He's like, 'You're hurting me, let me go,' and I'm like, 'No.'"

FOX 2: "What is it like knowing you saved a man's life?"

"It's a surreal feeling, it's like, did it really happen?" Chupa says.

We do not know who the man is or where he is now. Wayne Police is not talking about what happened.

If you or someone you know needs to speak with someone, contact the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK  or text the word “TALK” to the Crisis Text Line 741-741