HARRISBURG, N.C. — Eric Torres was driving along the overpass above Interstate 485 in Harrisburg Friday night when he noticed two women talking to someone on the bridge.
[LINK: Mental Health Resources]
“I just see the figure disappear,” Torres said.
Police officers on the scene grabbed the man, who tried to jump from the bridge.
"Two of the officers were holding the person's wrist as he was dangling off 485," Torres said.
Torres rushed to help on that rainy night.
"Just the thought of dropping him and seeing that, I just didn't want to be a part of that,” Torres said.
The good Samaritan managed to grab the man's waist and offered words of encouragement.
"Listen to me,” Torres told the man. “You're not going to do this. I've been where you are at but look where I'm at now."
The life-or-death discussion lasted several minutes but Torres said it felt like a lifetime.
"Me begging him not to do this, and he looked at me and said, ‘Please let me go. I can’t do this,’" Torres said.
Torres’ focus went to the man’s shirt.
"I'm like, ‘You're wearing a shirt that says, ‘God.’ I said, ‘You don't think he has something to do with all of us being here for you?’" Torres said.
In that moment, the man told Torres in a faint voice, “I will try.”
The officers and Torres were able to pull the man up from over the edge to safety.
"As bad as you think you're having it, there's someone out there who is, unfortunately, suffering much more than you are, and you can either choose to stand by and do nothing or actually try to make a difference," Torres said.