Churchman’s bridge rescue

Press, 19 September 1984, Page 27

Churchman’s bridge rescue

PA Auckland A churchman who persuaded a man not to jump off the Auckland Harbour Bridge is a regular “saviour.” An Assembly of God church member, Mr Bryan McCloughen, makes a habit of saving people in distress, but never quite as dramatically as in Saturday night’s bridge rescue. Mr McCloughen heard on the police radio he carries

in his car that a fnan had climbed over the guard rail and. threatened to jump to his death. The man, standing on the bridge ledge, told police he wanted to “talk to God.” Mr McCloughen drove up at the same moment, and his church connections got him the job. He asked the police if they would let the distressed man go free if he climbed back over the rail. The man climbed back to

safety and went with Mr McCloughen back to his church for a “counselling and praying session.” The previous night, Mr McCloughen rescued an intoxicated woman as she staggered down the Southern Motorway near the Newmarket viaduct He heard the broadcast over the police radio but onduty patrols were busy elsewhere; Mr McCloughen went to the rescue. He said there had been

many other incidents in past years when he picked up messages off the police radio and went to the aid of people in distress, but never a harbour bridge rescue before. The police today described Mr McCloughen as “brilliant” Detective Constable Paul Dimery said be had done an incredible job in the bridge rescue and the Police Department would be showing its appreciation officially.