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Published on Tuesday, June 1, 2004
in the Lakeland Ledger
A man who said he wanted to jump to his death from the Sunshine Skyway bridge was grabbed by two state troopers Monday just as he let go, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The unidentified man had used a cell phone to call a friend early in morning from the bridge that towers over Tampa Bay and said he planned to jump, troopers said.
The friend called 911. The call was routed to Trooper Mark Cross, on patrol along the 5-mile stretch of bridge.
When Cross approached the man and began talking to him, the man already was hanging off, Cross said.
As Cross talked to the man, Trooper Dan Cole arrived. Cross said the jumper said he "had nothing left to live for" and released his hold on the bridge wall.
Cole and Cross lunged and caught the man.