16-Year-Old Girl Survives Fall from Golden Gate Bridge

On Tuesday, April 18th, a 16-year-old girl either jumped or fell off the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Officials are still trying to figure out whether it was attempted suicide or just an accident. She was the second teen to plummet from the bridge, which is a 220-foot fall, within two months.

After the 16-year-old plummeted off the bridge, she spent 20 minutes in the water below before getting rescued.  Firemen got the first call at 10:53 a.m. and the Coast Guard rescued her precisely at 11:13 a.m. She was taken to the hospital immediately but her conditions were not released right away.  Many people say it was a miracle that the girl even survived because according msnbc.com 25 people per year die from either falling or jumping off the bridge.

On March 10th, a 17-year-old boy jumped off the bridge during a school field trip. He reportedly told the rescuers that he did it for fun. Little did he know that more than 1,300 people have gotten killed falling off the bridge. Lucky for him, he only broke his tail bone and tore his lung.

Since the Golden Gate Bridge opened in the 1930s it has been a popular spot for suicides. According to reports, there were 31 suicides last year by people jumping of the bridge. Furthermore, there have been more than 1,300 people killed since the bridge opened, whether it was suicide or just an accident.

The 16-year-old girl and the 17-year-old boy are among the very few survivors of those who plummet from the Golden Gate Bridge.  Whether someone tries to commit suicide or just an accidently fall there is a higher percentage of them dying rather than them surviving.  About 677 people changed their minds from committing suicide to saving their life after looking down the 220-foot drop to the waters below. It is a blessing for this girl to have survived.

By: Elizabeth Farwell