Jacksonville officer and pastor talks man off Dames Point Bridge in dramatic rescue

This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).

The course of one man’s life changed dramatically when a Jacksonville police officer along with a team of other officers stepped in to help a person in crisis on Florida’s Dames Point Bridge in April.

Faith was everything in this one.

Body camera footage taken on April 12 shows Officer Antonio Richardson talking to a man standing at the edge of the bridge and preparing to jump. Richardson responded to the emergency along with six other patrol officers.

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During the drama, Richardson can be heard telling the man, “Whatever you’re going through, man, you can get through it.”

“Now listen, man. Listen. Listen. You can get through this,” he told the individual as police lights flashed behind them.

Richardson said to the man, “Let’s talk for a minute. … You believe in prayer, I know that. … Just touch my hand. Just touch my hand, man, I’m praying with you.”

For nearly 40 minutes, the officer kept up a steady stream of conversation and assisted the man as he staggered on the edge of the bridge, staring at the water below him.

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With his arm outstretched, Richardson told the man: “If you jump, you’re going to hurt other people. And they’re going to suffer just like you’re suffering now. … The cycle needs to stop.”

“I felt in my gut that God would spare his life.”

Finally, after a few minutes, the man moved away from the bridge and walked towards the officer, and they hugged. Then other officers also stepped in.

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Richardson, who appeared on “Fox & Friends” this week to discuss the incident, said: “When I got the call… I was just there to make a traffic stop. Then a couple of other officers, knowing my position as a chaplain, asked me to come and talk to the guy… Nothing was scripted…. I didn’t want to see him jump,” he added.

“I was praying. And God spared his life. And we connected. And as a result of that connection, he didn’t jump,” said the officer, who is also a priest (not pictured). (iStock)

“I felt in my gut that God would spare his life, and he did.”

He also said, “I was praying. And God spared his life. And we connected. And as a result of that connection, he didn’t jump.”

“This powerful story reminds us that we can all love our neighbors and be part of the solution in our nation.”

According to reports, Officer Richardson has more than 30 years of ministry experience. Once he was safe and the drama had passed, the man said he called the officer’s wife, got into the patrol car and “cried like a baby.”

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Seattle-area pastor Jesse Bradley, who leads Grace Community Church and is the founder of the ministry Just Choose Hopewatched the video of the dramatic incident.

“This powerful story reminds us that we can all love our neighbors and be part of the solution in our nation. Every person is created in the image of God, loved by Jesus, and life is a gift,” he told Fox News Digital.

Jacksonville Police Officer Antonio Richardson (right) shared the emotional story of how he spoke to a man on the side of a bridge in Jacksonville, Florida, on “Fox & Friends” April 12. (Fox News)

He added: “We were created to receive and give hope every day we live, work, learn and play.”

Bradley also said people “need to be intentional about pursuing others in need, they need to take risks in relationships.” In the parable of the Good Samaritan, there were two religious people who took no chances and stayed in their comfort zone. “We have a greater calling,” he said.

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“Only the Samaritan was willing to go to the suffering man and bring about healing. Let us be people crossing the road. Let us be faithful to God. Love is intentional, takes action, and sacrifices. Let us love and live like Jesus.”

“Instead of being separated from God, we can have peace with God and full forgiveness through Jesus,” said one pastor, recalling the recent rescue of a man in Jacksonville, Florida, during a mental health crisis. (iStock)

Bradley observed that the inspirational story in Florida “points to the greatest story of saving us. Jesus left heaven to follow us.”

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He said: “We have all sinned against God and need a Savior. Jesus died on the cross, offered forgiveness, and rose from the grave to give us eternal life.

“Instead of being separated from God,” he added, “we can have peace with God and complete forgiveness through Jesus. This is grace, an unmerited gift. We will be with Jesus forever; an eternal salvation.”