(La Porte, IN) - Two firefighters are credited with saving the life of a female who was threatening to jump off the U.S. 35 overpass in downtown La Porte over the weekend.

 

After scaling a chain link fence along the northbound lanes, the individual was found standing on the edge of the overpass about 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

 

La Porte Fire Department Battalion Chief Doug Biernacki said a couple of police officers managed to somehow grab the female and hold on to her until firefighter Tyler Long reached her by climbing over the top of the fence.

 

He said firefighter A.C. Pressler set up a rope system.  Long tied the rescue rope around the woman, who was then lowered to safety and tended to by emergency medical personnel.  Biernacki said it took about 12 minutes after receiving the call to execute the rescue.

 

“It went as good as we could have hoped for,” he said.

 

A similar rescue was executed in late August of a female threatening to jump from the overpass after scaling the fence.  La Porte Police Officers Ryan Helmecy and Taylor Atkinson were among the emergency responders given life-saving awards for their heroics in that incident last year.