(La Porte, IN) - Two La Porte Police Officers have been recognized for saving the life of a young woman who tried jumping from the U.S. 35 overpass.

 

Ryan Helmecy and Taylor Atkinson were given awards for their life-saving efforts during last night’s La Porte City Council meeting. Likewise, Adam Jaskowiak and Justin Dyer were commended for assisting with the situation.

 

On August 28th, a bystander on the bridge roughly 30 feet above the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks was close to the woman, begging her not to jump. The woman was at the top of a chain link security fence erected along the edge of a sidewalk on the overpass a few years ago.

 

She was beginning to make her way down the other side of the fence when Helmecy, the first emergency responder to arrive, rushed over, jumped on top of the fence, and grabbed the crying woman by the arm until she let go.

 

With nothing but the ground below her feet, Police Chief Paul Brettin said Helmecy held on to her until Officer Atkinson climbed to the other side of the fence and grabbed the woman by the arm.

 

Atkinson kept a tight grip on her for several minutes, until being rescued via the bucket on a fire truck below the overpass. Atkinson then climbed back over the fence to the pavement.  

 

Jaskowiak called the actions of the two officers “probably one of the most heroic” in his 12 years of public service.

 

“They completely put their well-being aside to go over that fence and hang on,” he said.

 

“She was begging them to let go. They would not do that,” Brettin said.

 

The woman was taken to a hospital for a mental health evaluation to begin the process of recovery.

 

Brettin said he’s since nicknamed Atkinson “Spider-Man," after the comic book superhero's ability to stick to and climb walls.

 

Historically, Brettin said, people have occasionally jumped or threatened to jump from the overpass, but not since the security fence was installed.

 

“I was quite surprised when they called me and told me that this occurred,” he said.