'CAN I GIVE YOU A HUG?'
Incredible moment bus driver spots a suicidal woman considering leaping from bridge and pulls over to talk her down
Damone Hudson kept the woman chatting until cops arrived at the bridge in Dayton, Ohio, USA
CCTV cameras on a bus have captured the incredible moment the driver pulled over to talk a suicidal woman out of jumping off a bridge.
Damone Hudson was driving over the Great Miami River that runs through Dayton, Ohio, USA, when he spotted something out of the corner of his eye.
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A woman was standing the wrong side of a safety rail, staring down into the fast-flowing water below.
Footage from the bus’s security camera shows Damone pull over and get out of his seat to talk to the woman.
Opening the bus doors and cautiously stepping closer, he can be heard saying: “Hey miss, why don't we come back over on the side of the rail? ... Hey miss, why don't we come back on this side of the rail for me?”
The video didn’t capture what happened after that, but Damone told what he said next to stop the lady leaping to her death.
The driver revealed he was trying to say “anything to get her to come back over on the other side of the rail”.
He said he asked her: “Ma'am, you look like you're having a bad day, you know. Can I give you a hug?”
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Damone kept talking to the woman until cops arrived on the scene and took over.
She eventually stepped down from the ledge – while Damone drove off and continued with his bus journey.
Reflecting on the experience, the driver added: “Everyone's going through something. Even if you are, just reach out and try to touch someone, even if it's in a small way.”
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