Passer-By Pushes Potential Suicide Jumper From Bridge In China

BEIJING — Chen Fuchao, a man heavily in debt, had been contemplating suicide on a bridge in southern China for hours when a passer-by came up, shook his hand _ and pushed him off the ledge.

Chen fell 26 feet (8 meters) onto a partially inflated emergency air cushion laid out by authorities and survived, suffering spine and elbow injuries, the official Xinhua News Agency said Saturday.

The passer-by, 66-year-old Lai Jiansheng, had been fed up with what he called Chen's "selfish activity," Xinhua said. Traffic around the Haizhu bridge in the city of Guangzhou had been backed up for five hours and police had cordoned off the area.

"I pushed him off because jumpers like Chen are very selfish. Their action violates a lot of public interest," Lai was quoted as saying by Xinhua. "They do not really dare to kill themselves. Instead, they just want to raise the relevant government authorities' attention to their appeals."

Xinhua said Lai was "taken away by police" but did not elaborate.

A police officer who answered the telephone Saturday at a station close to the bridge confirmed the incident and said it was under investigation. He refused to give any other details and hung up.

According to Xinhua, Chen wanted to kill himself because he had accrued 2 million yuan ($290,000) in debt from a failed construction project.

On Thursday, he made his way to the Haizhu bridge, where 11 other people have tried to take their lives since April.

Lai volunteered to talk Chen down but was turned away by police, Xinhua said. Lai then broke through the cordon, climbed to where Chen sat, greeted him with a handshake, then pushed.

Photos in the Beijing Morning Post showed Lai, shoeless and in a T-shirt, saluting after Chen fell.

The paper said Lai was released on bail Friday but did not give any details. It said he had been on medication for "a mental illness" for decades and had been on his way to a hospital for his pills.

Chen was recovering in the hospital, Xinhua said.

Comments

[wonderingstar]

Google'd Haizhu Bridge Guangzhou.

Found this:

"May 9 - Threatened Suicides on Bridge Cause Disquiet"
http://www.lifeofguangzhou.com/node_10/node_37/node_85/2009/05/09/124185066364193.shtml

******BEGIN QUOTE*******
"Since April 1, Haizhu Bridge at Guangzhou has witnessed 8 threatened suicides. According to a policeman involved in handling some of the incidents, all the 9 people involved had threatened to jump off the bridge in order to attract public attention to their private problems."

"However, the seemingly endless series of threatened suicides have aroused resentment from the general public who formerly showed sympathy to these seekers after help. Mr. Li, a resident of Binjiang District, said he had quarreled with one of the bridge climbers because he was tired of being blocked on the road by traffic police due to suicide threats."
********END QUOTE*********

With this background, I can understand why Mr Lai gave the shove. GZ has 9 million people. Imagine being late for work or making deliveries several times in one month - would the boss/client accept "traffic was bad" as excuse?

[deadcustodian]

Send Lai Jiansheng to New York to help clean up Wall Street.

[Naajoa]

LOL.......yes, great idea!

[progressivepam]

I don't know how the Chinese legal system works, but can you imagine the millions that Lai would get sued for in the States?

[larry278]

What is the fuss? The other gentleman simply gave a helping hand to the suicidal chap.

[dm10003]

check your meds too, larry. the pusher was on his way to the hospital because he has a long history of mental illness.

i must say that the article has partly provoked such a callous smarta$$ bunch of comments.

[OpposingViewpoint]

Lighten up. If these are the most callous comments you have seen, or made, I could understand your reaction. Move on.

[VPN]

Think with 1.3 billion more he will be noticed missing?

[HC4BO]

I guess he is NO LONGER a potential ...

Jump already, ya kitty ....

[HarryParatestis]

a mental case pushes a mental case off the bridge....hmmm....i'm thinking there is something deep to think about here.....hmmmm......1,200,000,000 minus 1 equals 1,199,999,999.....hmmm....ok, i can't come up with anything.

[jackbutler5555]

All that macho talk. Do you really think you can conceal your love of your fellow man with all that bluster. Behind it all, I see your tears, a lament for all of life's tragedies, a concern for the mentally ill. Just say what you really think. You need a hug first?

[dm10003]

can you believe all these jerks who would expect a hand if THEY were literally or metaphorically hanging from their fingernails???!!!

maybe they're frustrated that it's in china and they not only have no feelings, they feel resentful that they can't blame their fellow beloved americans!

[Jon Gefaell]

Oh Yes! I'm so glad to see this philosophy! It's so tragic that people feel so much pain they are seemingly inured to that of others. It's like being partially blind, or missing a limb. I hope that love finds it's way to heal the bearer of such harsh words.

[Edward Lucio]

Are we sure the guy that did the pushing was not Mel Gibson?

[shockmagog]

Now that we're on the subject, where are all the fed up vasectomy surgeons, here in the United States, when you need them?

'Father, 29, in child support court says he has 21 kids'

'KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- On paper, he has 20 possibly 21 children. With a minimum wage job, he can't afford to support them all. What is the state to do?'

'Desmond Hatchett, 29, told WVLT he wasn't out to set a record, though he certainly holds it in Knox County Juvenile Child Support Court. Hatchett's children range in age from newborn 11. There are at least 11 mothers; probably several more. Constitutionally, there is nothing the state can do to limit him from having more. "I had four kids in the same year. Twice." Desmond Hatchett told Volunteer TV.'
http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/45871127.html

[kareemachan]

Somewhat interesting, but why don't you either 1) stick on topic, or 2) post this on Digg or Buzz or something.

[shockmagog]

The topic is "selfish activity."

Now I'm going to have to find out what "Digg" and "Buzz" are, and how to use them. Thanks a lot.

[DSOTM]

Wow, so they listen to Rush Limbaugh in China too?

[Alex Ayala]

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

[LiberalBuzz]

Because Boss Limbaugh is the sort of person who would both applaud pushing him off and/or do it himself.

[dems08]

Lai decided that the jumper was being selfish by inconveniencing those who wanted to cross the bridge.

He decided the way to cure the jumper of his selfishness was by killing him.

Charge him with murder.

[dems08]

make that attempted murder...

[Alex Ayala]

Did you even read the article? He pushed him onto an inflated emergency air cushion.

[xmw]

right, he haf no proff his actions would not cause harm and they did.

[lj9283]

The passerby who did the pushing must be a fan of the rugged individualism of Ann Rynd and her followers. Sounds similar to many Right Wing posters on Huffpo.

[kraftmatic]

If you could be bothered to read the article instead of leaping to faulty conclusions that somehow connect any misfortune with the Re.publican party, you would understand that the pusher declared that he committed his actions in the interest of the larger community.

[porfiry]

Yes, he was a real humanitarian. Defend sociopaths much?

[Bright Creature]

He said Ayn Rand and said nothing about Republicans. Are you conflating the Republicans with her? I think that speaks volumes.

[TheBaffler]

Randian loons always think their selfish actions are of benefit to society.

[Jon Gefaell]

I think you're confused. What sort of soup are you trying to make by forcing all these labels into a pot and stirring them up? People are not labels, the reality we share is not a label. I think it's probably best to ask how we can stop the suffering. That should be more important than polarized wings of political philosophy, don't you think? Diverse opinions are great stuff, but when people talk in codes like these I have to take it for what it is and move on.

Do you know of any solutions?

[lompe]

Now that's assisted suicide.

[economics101]

GOOD STUFF...Since China has adopted Capitalism more (Millions have rose out of poverty).Whats funny is they said Obama"Is being to Socialist"...Classic....A former 100% communist nation says our president is to Socialist..... Obama could learn from the Cinese(At least their stimulas worked)

[RobinSeattle]

You have a cite for any of that Bunky?

It stretches the bounds of credibility that China would criticize socialism.

[skyslimit]

When our stimulus does work the republicans will all be taking credit for it, just you watch.

[shockmagog]

No, it's not "good stuff," it's tabloid schlock--just like your post.

Show us anything from China that says, 'Obama "Is being to Socialist."'

If it ever happened all it says is you believe them before you believe your own eyes and ears. Next you seem to put up the ridiculous implication that Obama's stimulus has failed, when it has barely had time to kick in in the first place.

It seems you need more than a remedial course.

[kareemachan]

And is their stimulus working? Any citations? And remember, that China tends to put their image above absolute truthfulness, and has for decades.

[FabulousAt52]

And the US has done the exact same thing - with every republican president since the 70's.

[mesoholy]

I would probably need a push if I ever tried to jump off a bridge or cliff. It take a lot courage to kill oneself.

[speakyourmind]

Courage? More like stupidity and utter selfishness.

[plaidsportcoat]

What is stupid and what is selfish ab out it?

[mphalen]

Lai did the right thing. Suicide is the hightest form of cowardice. And if he really wanted to kill himself, he would have. But he was seeking some attention and to lessen the guilt for his mismanagement of his money.

[RobinSeattle]

This reminds me of a woman here in Puget Sound who jammed up traffic for hours on end with a suicide attempt on a high traffic bridge. A lot of these suicide attempts are just shows of narcissism and little more. If you're going to off yourself, don't involve other people in it, okay?

[kareemachan]

Wow, you must like the fact that Obama wants to appoint a Supreme Court judge with empathy, doncha?

[LiberalBuzz]

Jeez who spilled your Wheaties on the ground.

Suicide attempts are NOT shows of narcissism. They are cries for help in a lot of cases and in others, where they succeed, a belief they are not worth being alive.

Get a clue.

[noralou]

Yeah and you wonderful folks in Seattle were yelling at her to jump. I am so glad that I don't live there anymore.

[Jon Gefaell]

Clearly it sounds like this was not a 'suicide attempt' but rather a very extreme form of pleading for help. I can imagine the hardship caused by making so many people late was also quite trying.

For those for whom 'suicide' is appropriate and necessary, I'd hope we as a society could help provide that possibility. For those whom have too much pain and not enough means to endure it, I hope we could provide those means as well.

Do you think that sounds more hopeful than inviting someone to die miserable and alone?