Bodycam footage shows two Tennessee police officers grabbing man in nick of time as he hurls himself off bridge
A dramatic bodycam footage of two Tennessee law enforcement officers shows the moment a young man attempts to jump off a bridge and is caught in the nick of time by the officers, saving his life.
The clip of the heroic save was posted by the Knox County Sheriff's Office on their Facebook page on Monday. The post by the department praised the TANGO Traffic Unit Deputy Brian Rehg, who along with KPD Lt. Chris McCarter, saved the day on April 8.
The Sheriff's Office's Facebook caption said: "Officer Rehg along with KPD Lt. Chris McCarter grabbed and held onto the young man just seconds before he went over the bridge. Because of their vigilance and quick actions the young man is alive today."
The bodycam footage shows two officers standing with an unidentified young man near a bridge on Pleasant Rodge Road. As deputy Carter appears to talk to someone, the man standing with them appears to make a lunge over the bridge's railing. Deputy Rehg and Lt. McCarter quickly jump into action, barely grabbing onto the man's leg as he hangs halfway over the railing and struggles to get out of the officers' grasp.
The officers, however, manage to pull him back to safety and place him on the ground before he attempts to hurt himself further. Reports state that the suicidal man in the video later received help.
The post added: "Both Lt. McCarter and Officer Rehg are true local heroes, not just because of this one incident but because they continue to risk their lives daily for the safety of others."
Lt. McCarter, last month, was also awarded the Life-Saving Award by the Knoxville Police Department. Shortly after the video was posted on social media, many people heaped praises on the officers, with one of them writing: "My heart almost stopped. Such quick action by this Officer saved this young man’s life. The Officer very well could have been pulled over himself. You are a hero."