The Way This Latvian Fireman Catches A Suicidal Woman Falling To Her Death Stuns The Internet
For most of us, saving a person from certain death is one of the ultimate human experiences we might never have. But Tomas Jaunzems of the State Fire And Rescue Service Of Latvia definitely knows what it feels like. Recently, his colleagues recorded Tomas leaning out of a window to catch a suicidal woman plummeting off an apartment building, and posted it to Facebook. Watching the thrilling video, you will without a doubt come one step closer to understanding what it takes to become a hero.
“During the weekend we received a call to a multi-apartment building where there was a suspicion that a person was going to jump from a fourth-floor window,” a spokesperson of the State Fire And Rescue Service Of Latvia said.
“I decided to be a firefighter because I am my country’s patriot, and helping people, saving people’s lives and homes was my motivation,” Jaunzems told Bored Panda. “I have been working in State Fire And Rescue Service Of Latvia for almost five years.”
Tomas Jaunzems and his crew arrived at the property, finding their way to an apartment below. Realizing the woman was likely to jump, they prepared for a grab. While Jaunzems was waiting for a fall at the window, another firefighter rescuer tried to stabilize him as firmly as possible. At the same time, other crew members with mountaineering equipment tried to access people on the sill from the roof of the building, but the rescuers noticed that the woman had fallen and dropped.
Tomas said he hasn’t practiced such a scenario in the past. “It was the first time I have done this, we haven’t been practicing this kind of people rescue works. It is nearly impossible to tell you what the most difficult thing was during that day because every day in firefighters’ lives is different [and] challenging. We just do the thing we do the best – help people!”
When asked if he keeps a track of the people he saved, Tomas proved he remains humble. “In five years in service, there have been a lot of different situations – fires, car crashes and almost in all of them people needed help. We work in [a] team and I don’t count how many lives I have saved.”
Latvia’s Minister of the Interior Rihards Kozlovskis praised the fearless fire brigade rescuers whose service he’s overseeing: “The work of the rescuers is very special – it requires courage, professionalism and the ability to act quickly and decisively in complicated and often non-standard situations. I am proud of these two rescuers of the HGH who saved human life.”
After officially assessing the brave and quick actions of the firefighter rescuers as well as the initiative they showed when saving human life, they should receive awards from both the service and the Ministry of the Interior.
Scroll down to watch how the bone-chilling event unfolded
More info: vugd.gov.lv | Facebook
Tomas Jaunzems has recently proved why firefighter rescuers are the heroes we so desperately need
Image credits: Tomas Jaunzems
“During the weekend we received a call to a multi-apartment building”
Image credits: LNT
“There was a suspicion that a person was going to jump from a fourth-floor window”
Image credits: Latvianfirefighters
Jaunzems and his crew arrived at the location, finding their way to an apartment below
Image credits: Latvianfirefighters
Realizing the woman was likely to jump, they prepared for a grab
Image credits: Latvianfirefighters
While Jaunzems was waiting for a fall through a window, another firefighter rescuer tried to stabilize him as firmly as possible
Image credits: Latvianfirefighters
Watch the full video to see the heroic act for yourself
After an official assessment of their brave and quick actions, the firefighter rescuers should receive awards from both the service and the Ministry of Internal
Image credits: Tomas Jaunzems
People started praising the heroes instantly
i've watched that like 47 times and still can't work out the strength and timing that must've taken...
I didn't know that something like this was even humanly possible. I keep thinking: what if he hadn't been able to catch her?
Load More Replies...Absolutely flipping amazing! To be able to catch someone at the speed they must have been falling and still HOLD ON is staggering. The fantastic people in fire and rescue services the world over - deepest respect to them all.
Everyone is talking about how he catched her, yes that is amazing but what about the OTHER fireman who held on to him as well???? he deserves some recognition as well!
For fu*** sake!!!! Thats a hero!!! I'm paramedic and we work a lot with firefighters and police. But I've never seen something like this before! Thats just awesome!!! He deserves the biggest medal! Honestly! Just Wow
Absolutely amazing. I understand the woman's pain. I agree with one of the comments, that suicide passes the pain on to someone else. One of my neighbors completed suicide last month. Yesterday, my son made the comment "When Jerry died..." It hit me that my son is beginning to accept his friend's death. I haven't reached that point yet.
She tried to commit suicide from the 4st floor. I see broken limbs and lots of physical pain.
Load More Replies...We need to applause his partner too. The only reason the firefighter didn't go over with the jumper is because his partner anchored him down. That takes a lot of strength and amazing reflexes. Especially when the jumper is adding more force and weight when the firefighter caught her.
I can't help but think that she could've smashed her head during the catch? Is it possible she's unscathed? Would like a follow-up. Can't imagine how this young man feels after this ! Please keep our first responders in your prayers.
Reminds me of catching food with my bare hands when it falls out of my mouth. In all seriousness hats off to this guy, he really put it all out there to help someone in need. I hope she is able to get help and overcome what brought her to this.
She must have fallen very close to the building too for firefighter to even stand a chance of grabbing her.
My estrogen level just shot through the roof! OMG, someone get me a fan! Shewwww, I feel so flushed. This guy is my hero!
What he did was awesome, and all, but why is everyone attacking the jumper? Isn't it her right to decide? I know that most people saved from suicide are grateful afterward, but not all, and if most people prevented from marrying their high school sweethearts were grateful, does that make it alright to prevent people from choosing whom to marry? I'm just saying, the jumper did nothing wrong. Some people might think she did, but she shouldn't be attacked for making her own decisions about her own life, even if her decision was thwarted in a really spectacular manner.
Good thing his mate was holding his leg. I'm trying to work out how, as in, what position, he actually caught her, her legs, her waist? Her back is to the wall as she comes in. Just curious. Awesome work, but then firefighters are awesome anyway.
I'm so glad he could do that! But gosh, that must have hurt! I hope both of them are OK!
We need less soldiers and less military worship and we need more firefighters and more firefighter praise. Firefighters are real heroes who don’t do their job out of hate or violence. They do nothing but help people. The same can’t be said for the military and yes, it does need to be pointed out. They are not equal.
I checked Latvia news and there are articles that say it's a woman and other articles say it's a man. So now I don't know which one it was.
Load More Replies...For the curious mind on how it is done... it is pretty simple, you just didn't notices that you did it most of the time trying to catch other falling stuff. Do not try to wait for her to fall and extend your arm to catch her, extend your arms out before she jumps and grab on tight the moment you touched her like planning a trap to catch a rabbit, extend and prepare. Ask a kid to catch a balloon threw up to the sky and you will see what I mean by "extend your arms before she fall". However the safest way to be able to do this is the floor directly below as that moment they hasn't reach enough speed yet.
I hope that the woman who jumped and was saved goes to a hospital and seeks treatment for her depression. This illness CAN be treated and controlled. Even if medications don't work, there are other approaches.
It can be treated, but not always controlled. It's very individualized.
Load More Replies...Respect! What an amazing feat. Thank you, Tomas Jaunzems, for saving a life.
i've watched that like 47 times and still can't work out the strength and timing that must've taken...
I didn't know that something like this was even humanly possible. I keep thinking: what if he hadn't been able to catch her?
Load More Replies...Absolutely flipping amazing! To be able to catch someone at the speed they must have been falling and still HOLD ON is staggering. The fantastic people in fire and rescue services the world over - deepest respect to them all.
Everyone is talking about how he catched her, yes that is amazing but what about the OTHER fireman who held on to him as well???? he deserves some recognition as well!
For fu*** sake!!!! Thats a hero!!! I'm paramedic and we work a lot with firefighters and police. But I've never seen something like this before! Thats just awesome!!! He deserves the biggest medal! Honestly! Just Wow
Absolutely amazing. I understand the woman's pain. I agree with one of the comments, that suicide passes the pain on to someone else. One of my neighbors completed suicide last month. Yesterday, my son made the comment "When Jerry died..." It hit me that my son is beginning to accept his friend's death. I haven't reached that point yet.
She tried to commit suicide from the 4st floor. I see broken limbs and lots of physical pain.
Load More Replies...We need to applause his partner too. The only reason the firefighter didn't go over with the jumper is because his partner anchored him down. That takes a lot of strength and amazing reflexes. Especially when the jumper is adding more force and weight when the firefighter caught her.
I can't help but think that she could've smashed her head during the catch? Is it possible she's unscathed? Would like a follow-up. Can't imagine how this young man feels after this ! Please keep our first responders in your prayers.
Reminds me of catching food with my bare hands when it falls out of my mouth. In all seriousness hats off to this guy, he really put it all out there to help someone in need. I hope she is able to get help and overcome what brought her to this.
She must have fallen very close to the building too for firefighter to even stand a chance of grabbing her.
My estrogen level just shot through the roof! OMG, someone get me a fan! Shewwww, I feel so flushed. This guy is my hero!
What he did was awesome, and all, but why is everyone attacking the jumper? Isn't it her right to decide? I know that most people saved from suicide are grateful afterward, but not all, and if most people prevented from marrying their high school sweethearts were grateful, does that make it alright to prevent people from choosing whom to marry? I'm just saying, the jumper did nothing wrong. Some people might think she did, but she shouldn't be attacked for making her own decisions about her own life, even if her decision was thwarted in a really spectacular manner.
Good thing his mate was holding his leg. I'm trying to work out how, as in, what position, he actually caught her, her legs, her waist? Her back is to the wall as she comes in. Just curious. Awesome work, but then firefighters are awesome anyway.
I'm so glad he could do that! But gosh, that must have hurt! I hope both of them are OK!
We need less soldiers and less military worship and we need more firefighters and more firefighter praise. Firefighters are real heroes who don’t do their job out of hate or violence. They do nothing but help people. The same can’t be said for the military and yes, it does need to be pointed out. They are not equal.
I checked Latvia news and there are articles that say it's a woman and other articles say it's a man. So now I don't know which one it was.
Load More Replies...For the curious mind on how it is done... it is pretty simple, you just didn't notices that you did it most of the time trying to catch other falling stuff. Do not try to wait for her to fall and extend your arm to catch her, extend your arms out before she jumps and grab on tight the moment you touched her like planning a trap to catch a rabbit, extend and prepare. Ask a kid to catch a balloon threw up to the sky and you will see what I mean by "extend your arms before she fall". However the safest way to be able to do this is the floor directly below as that moment they hasn't reach enough speed yet.
I hope that the woman who jumped and was saved goes to a hospital and seeks treatment for her depression. This illness CAN be treated and controlled. Even if medications don't work, there are other approaches.
It can be treated, but not always controlled. It's very individualized.
Load More Replies...Respect! What an amazing feat. Thank you, Tomas Jaunzems, for saving a life.
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