How a police officer in Langgöns saved the life of a woman

How a police officer in Langgöns saved the life of a woman

above the Langgönser Talbrücke, which leads over the A45, a sea light illuminates the night. A dramatic rescue maneuver occurred here on a drafty August evening in 2023. The chief crime commissioner Jan Deutschmann and his colleague faced the challenge of saving the life of a woman who wanted to jump from the bridge.

On Friday, August 11th, around 10:26 p.m., Deutschmann received the worrying radio message about a woman with suicide thoughts that had fled from a hospital. He had seen her on the bridge a few hours earlier and knew that the danger was great.

missions require quick action

The valley bridge in Langgöns, a place that quickly turned into a crisis area was surrounded by emergency vehicles and paramedics during the use of emergency vehicles. Deutschmann, who knew the bridge well, was aware that every minute counted. He had to act quickly to keep the woman from her project. The thought of another attempted suicide did not leave him calm, and so he hurried to the bridge, while the use of traffic was interrupted at this point.

When he got the woman, she had already risen over the railing. Any movement she made could lead it to the abyss. Despite his lack of special training for such emergencies, he knew that he couldn't go away. "Go away," the woman called when Deutschmann began to have a conversation with her. "I want to help you. I will definitely not go," he replied to show her that she was not alone.

The backdrop was tense. To drown out the noise level of the passing cars, Deutschmann and the woman screamed. He tried to establish a connection to her and address all sorts of topics, from animals to everyday matters. But the woman was at an emotional low point, and Deutschmann fought her attention to him.

Deutschmann had an impressive career with the police. He had lived through serious missions and had started to help with the best intentions to help. In this extreme situation, however, he felt the pressure enormous. "I turned away slightly several times," he recalled. "I didn't know what to do when she let go." This moment was crossed by a change of feelings that he could hardly master.

Together for life

Although he described the situation as memorable, he was also aware of the emotional challenges that are associated with such a commitment. "I never found out how the woman fared," said Deutschmann. "I don't know what feelings such a confrontation would trigger with me." However, the memory of this night will always accompany him.

Recently he was awarded the Prime Minister of Hesse for his brave act. "It fulfills me with pride to be able to help, especially people in need," said Deutschmann. The desire to work to help others and possibly save lives is a strong motive for his work as a police officer. His parents and his father -in -law also work in the police service and thus share this significant mission.

After the mission, Deutschmann received some feedback from colleagues. A remarkable statement by a colleague about the woman particularly touched him: she was not happy about the circumstances, but that someone had taken time for her. A "blatant" statement that has remained in the police officer and illustrates the meaning of human connection in crisis situations.

a lasting experience

Jan Deutschmann's commitment to the Langgönser Talbrücke will remain unforgettable for him. The light of the vehicles that slide past the horizon causes the memory of this night, the urgency and the human depth, which appears in such extreme situations. Such cases show how important it is to be there at the right moment and take care of the people who are in a hopeless situation.

The use of Jan Deutschmann a year ago is an impressive example of the challenges that police and rescue workers have to face in critical situations. Such operations are often not only emotionally stressful, but also challenging in their complexity. In Germany, similar cases of suicide prevention are common, especially in places that are known as dangerous, such as bridges or railway lines. The police work in such moments goes beyond the mere maintenance of order and requires a high degree of empathy and psychological knowledge.

Ensuring help for endangered people is a central topic. Access to psychological support services and the opportunity to quickly get a professional assessment are crucial to cope with such crises. The German health system has made progress in recent years to improve access to psychological services, but many people are still not sufficiently informed or do not know where they can find help.

support offers and help

In Germany there are numerous institutions that deal with mental illnesses and the support of suicidal persons. Telephone counseling offers people in acute crises the opportunity to get help anonymously and around the clock. This is particularly important because many affected people often do not have the courage to contact a specialist directly.

There are also advice centers such as German depression aid that offer specific programs to support depression and psychosocial crises. These organizations are committed to raising awareness of mental health and facilitating access to help offers.

The planned measures to prevent suicides often include training for the staff of emergency services and a broader public. This should be recognized at an early stage and adequately reacted, which ultimately pursues the goal of saving human life.

The importance of emergency services such as Jan Deutschmann cannot be assessed high enough. Their ability to act in extreme stressful situations and at the same time show empathy is an unaffordable resource for companies that are faced with mental illnesses and crises.