This video took place on Saturday morning on a pedestrian bridge over a busy street in the Indonesian capital of Jakarta. When the video begins, a woman can be seen hanging on to the side of the bridge, threatening to jump. A public transportation officer can be seen trying to talk to her while others continue to walk by, seemingly oblivious to or undisturbed by the desperate woman who says she is ready to take her life.
But then, something incredible happens.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BkolLItjms6/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=ig3aq8sg6qza
One of those random passersby turns out to be a hero with quick reflexes and fake-out skills. Averting his eyes from the woman’s fearful gaze, he looks to the floor before seeing an opportunity to grab onto her before she can react. Another man helps him pull her off the side of the bridge to safety.
The incident took place at a pedestrian overpass bridge connected to the Kuningan Timur TransJakarta busway stop. TransJakarta spokesperson Wibowo said the incident took place at around 8am on Saturday and began when the woman in the video sat on the outer railing of the bridge and threatened to jump. He also confirmed that the woman was pregnant.
According to Wibowo, a number of TransJakarta officers and passengers tried to talk the woman down but she continued to threaten to jump. That is when the events captured in the video took place.
After the hero and others made sure the woman was safe, Wibowo said she told officers that she had threatened to commit suicide because she was fighting with her husband. She later apologized for causing the commotion.
“Her condition has improved and she apologized to the officers for causing the disturbance in the TransJakarta shelter area. She eventually continued on her way back to Slipi, Kemanggisan,” Wibowo said as quoted by Kompas.
As for the heroic passerby, reports did not mention his name or give any more information about him. Presumably he left the scene without taking credit (as only a true hero would).
Shockingly, there was actually another incident of a pregnant woman threatening to jump from a pedestrian bridge in Jakarta on that very same morning. That incident took place in Senayan and the woman was also rescued by passersby, but authorities said she had drank coffee mixed with mosquito repellent shortly before getting on the bridge. She was taken to a local hospital but no updates on her status have been given to the public.
The National Commission on Women (Komnas Perempuan) said that the two incidents highlighted the dire consequences of domestic violence and a lack of mental healthcare on Indonesian women.
“Violence against women can have a severe psychological impact on them, which could lead to excessive stress and despair if they do not immediately get treatment,” said Komnas Perempuan chairperson Azriana Manalu as quoted by Detik.
“The victim may even plan to commit suicide if the psychic pressure is so heavy and the victim feels there is no support for her at all,” Azriana added.
READ : ‘A wife’s nightmare in Bali sheds light on Indonesia’s hidden domestic violence epidemic’
Azriana said family and close friends had a responsibility to give women in difficult situations support and to look for signs of depression before it’s too late.
“The people closest to the victim (their neighbors or friends) should be the first people that need to give support / help to the victim. Do not judge or blame the victim, but help the victim to get immediate treatment.”
If you or anybody you know is having suicidal thoughts and urgently needs to talk to somebody, you can call 119 to reach the Ministry of Health’s mental health hotline.
