Method Comforted by daydreaming about this bridge

[AllCatsAreGrey]

This bridge is in my region and I think about it sometimes. When I was young I'd drive across it way too fast late at night. It's 197 feet high. (A little under 11 stories.) The bridge goes down to water level for a good distance, so it was super fun to drive fast on. It feels like a poetic place to jump as it was the backdrop of my highschool years. It's actually been featured in a lot of movies, for example Short Circuit.

CTB is common on this bridge, so it's definitely possible. It's not open to pedestrian traffic, so most people park their car on the bridge and jump. (That seems to be the way people know it happened.) I haven't heard of any cases of people surviving. Although I read of a case that a guy jumped, but landed on the grass. He died, but after hospital. Most times the bodies aren't recovered. This is at the mouth of a major river, so one would likely wind up in the ocean. (Maybe?) I like that idea. What happens when you land on water from this height?

Not a set plan, but I find myself day dreaming about it. It's been a source of comfort lately. I'd like to occupy my mind with this.

Any stories or tips? What bridges attract you? There's the classic Golden Gate Bridge. I'd be curious to learn of others I may not know about.

 

[Lookoutbelow]

Jumping is the way to go for me. 16 stories to concrete and asphalt.

 

[AllCatsAreGrey]

Jumping is the way to go for me. 16 stories to concrete and asphalt.

What do you think about the 11 stories of this bridge? Do you know anything about what happens when you hit water from this height?

 

[Lookoutbelow]

What do you think about the 11 stories of this bridge? Do you know anything about what happens when you hit water from this height?

From what I've read you will most likely be knocked unconscious, break a bunch of bones/ribs, and if you don't die instantly then you will drown. That's why some people chose bridge to water for the "extra" chance to die if the initial fall doesn't do it. I chose hard surface because I feel it will be sufficient enough to kill me instantly. The "good news" is that jump survivors all state that they do not have any recollection of hitting the ground/water. So should be painless, just terrifying during the fall. Good luck, as I haven't known a single person on here that has actually jumped. Even if it is their preferred method.

 

[AllCatsAreGrey]

I haven't known a single person on here that has actually jumped. Even if it is their preferred method.

Do you think that's mainly due to SI?

 

[bridgegirl]

I love that bridge. I daydream about mine for comfort, as well. Or rather, it brings me comfort and anguish - but I still love thinking about it and picturing it in my mind.

The question about landing in water was already answered, but I will be landing on ground instead - another thing that I picture quite often.

 

[Lookoutbelow]

Do you think that's mainly due to SI?

Yes, SI for jumping seems to be the strongest, but people around the world jump to their death all the time. Just not on here. I think it is an age thing. Jumping is usually done by older people. I am 53 so I feel like I fit the demographic. At 53 it's a different mindset to suicide. Less emotional and more resignation. I am just kind of done with it all without all the anger of when I was younger. So I believe I should be able to just hop the rail when the time comes. But who knows?

 

[AllCatsAreGrey]

Yes, SI for jumping seems to be the strongest, but people around the world jump to their death all the time. Just not on here. I think it is an age thing. Jumping is usually done by older people. I am 53 so I feel like I fit the demographic. At 53 it's a different mindset to suicide. Less emotional and more resignation. I am just kind of done with it all without all the anger of when I was younger. So I believe I should be able to just hop the rail when the time comes. But who knows?

Interesting. I'm 45 and have a similar feeling when considering it.

 

[daydreams]

Beautiful idea
While listening to this

 

[Lookoutbelow]

I love that bridge. I daydream about mine for comfort, as well. Or rather, it brings me comfort and anguish - but I still love thinking about it and picturing it in my mind.

The question about landing in water was already answered, but I will be landing on ground instead - another thing that I picture quite often.

It's been awhile. When I picture myself jumping I never picture the landing, just the leap. I figure the landing will take care of itself. It's that damn leap that needs to be seared into muscle memory.

 

[ABSOLUTION]

Ah I think about my location too... all the time.
I cannot get over it, it is such a good location and I cannot wait for the day to come.
I will try to visit it soon, not to CTB but to ensure it's feasibility.

 

[bridgegirl]

It's been awhile. When I picture myself jumping I never picture the landing, just the leap. I figure the landing will take care of itself. It's that damn leap that needs to be seared into muscle memory.

Hmm, I picture the landing quite a bit - there’s this view of the grass from straight down, and I always see it in my mind. I always feel like that grass looks so inviting and comfortable. I mean I know it wouldn’t be comfortable, but it invites me to rest, for sure.

But, actually making that leap has so far been very difficult for me - so I feel you.

 

[gbi2]

It's been awhile. When I picture myself jumping I never picture the landing, just the leap. I figure the landing will take care of itself. It's that damn leap that needs to be seared into muscle memory.

I keep picturing myself jumping with a bungee cord attached to see if that tricks my mind but I suppose getting a couple of mattresses and practicing a bit like they do when skydiving might help too.

 

[AllCatsAreGrey]

I always feel like that grass looks so inviting and comfortable. I mean I know it wouldn’t be comfortable, but it invites me to rest, for sure.

This is really beautiful to me.

In the case that I mentioned:

I haven't heard of any cases of people surviving. Although I read of a case that a guy jumped, but landed on the grass.

The grass where he landed was exactly the place I would go as a teenager to get away and look at the river. It was my safe place where I had so many lonely times with deep thoughts. It's a small hill overlooking the river. When I was young there was a small tree there - I think it's not there anymore... Anyway, when I read this case I thought about how poetic it would be for me to land there. I know the case ended in extended suffering, but the idea of landing on that same hill seemed so inviting.

When thinking of practical plan, I feel landing on water is what I'd like. Still there's an aesthetic in the grass I like.

Writing this makes me want visit the spot.

I keep picturing myself jumping with a bungee cord attached to see if that tricks my mind but I suppose getting a couple of mattresses and practicing a bit like they do when skydiving might help too.

This is an interesting point. It led me down the rabbit hole of watching base jumps. There's footage of failed jumps and it's interesting how it highlights even with training and equipment, a lot can go wrong.

Your points around training are sound.

Ah I think about my location too... all the time.
I cannot get over it, it is such a good location and I cannot wait for the day to come.
I will try to visit it soon, not to CTB but to ensure it's feasibility.

Have you visited your location after considering it for CTB? I haven't. I'm thinking it will be special to visit my spot after all this thought.

 

[AllCatsAreGrey]

This morning while on the bus to work I'm doing research about other cases of CTB on this bridge. It's really calming my mind.

Some news I didn't like seeing was discussion of adding fences or nets. Fortunately this seems unlikely as they don't have funding for that

 

[Egg]

This bridge is in my region and I think about it sometimes. When I was young I'd drive across it way too fast late at night. It's 197 feet high. (A little under 11 stories.) The bridge goes down to water level for a good distance, so it was super fun to drive fast on. It feels like a poetic place to jump as it was the backdrop of my highschool years. It's actually been featured in a lot of movies, for example Short Circuit.

CTB is common on this bridge, so it's definitely possible. It's not open to pedestrian traffic, so most people park their car on the bridge and jump. (That seems to be the way people know it happened.) I haven't heard of any cases of people surviving. Although I read of a case that a guy jumped, but landed on the grass. He died, but after hospital. Most times the bodies aren't recovered. This is at the mouth of a major river, so one would likely wind up in the ocean. (Maybe?) I like that idea. What happens when you land on water from this height?

Not a set plan, but I find myself day dreaming about it. It's been a source of comfort lately. I'd like to occupy my mind with this.

Any stories or tips? What bridges attract you? There's the classic Golden Gate Bridge. I'd be curious to learn of others I may not know about.

If that's the Astoria Megler Bridge, I'm not sure how someone would have landed on grass there.

Is there an island underneath somewhere? It looks to me like only water underneath the center of the bridge where you would want to jump from.

Also, 6 jumps from this bridge between 2010 and 2022 is not what I would call "common".

https://www.chinookobserver.com/news/local/officials-prioritize-curbing-astoria-bridge-suicides/article_f5ae8b1e-82c3-11ec-9426-1be4612ae47b.html

Confirmed suicides from the bridge are relatively uncommon. A search of news stories found six between 2010 and now. Four were men and two were women. Emergency responders have successfully intervened in others.

There's also way too much car traffic on this bridge to avoid being "rescued" by egotistical good samaritans. And it's not high enough to die on impact with the water, which means you'll probably break your hip/legs/neck/back during the fall and if you float back up to the surface your SI will force your arms (if they're working) to try to maintain floatage until the emergency responders arrive. This bridge is know to have a very active patrol so your chance of being rescued may be better than your chance of dying. Then you just need to find a new CTB technique from your wheelchair (give yourself up to a year to regain range of motion in your limbs if you're not paralyzed) if you're lucky enough to be able to control a wheelchair and find an accessibility-friendly spot that you can roll your wheelchair off of, like a cliff. Of course getting to an unprotected high place in a wheelchair is probably going to be tricky so pharmaceuticals would probably be the only option at that point.

 

[AllCatsAreGrey]

If that's the Astoria Megler Bridge, I'm not sure how someone would have landed on grass there.

Yup. Correct bridge. The bridge goes over land before going over the water. The grass was a hill behind Suomi Hall.

Also, 6 jumps from this bridge between 2010 and 2022 is not what I would call "common".

I grew up there. It happens. It seems to me that the state doesn't report on suicides from the bridge.

Some reports say that since the bridge was built (1966) it has attracted suicides. To me it seems they're trying to minimize how often it happens to avoid more attention from people that want to CTB there.

There's also way too much car traffic on this bridge to avoid being "rescued" by egotistical good samaritans.

Again, I grew up there. If you go late night early morning there is very little traffic.

I appreciate your input and concern. It's not my preferred plan, but I find it poetic and calming to consider. When I last had an impulsive desire to CTB this bridge called me. Thinking about it helps me.

 

[Egg]

Yup. Correct bridge. The bridge goes over land before going over the water. The grass was a hill behind Suomi Hall.



I grew up there. It happens. It seems to me that the state doesn't report on suicides from the bridge.

Some reports say that since the bridge was built (1966) it has attracted suicides. To me it seems they're trying to minimize how often it happens to avoid more attention from people that want to CTB there.



Again, I grew up there. If you go late night early morning there is very little traffic.

I appreciate your input and concern. It's not my preferred plan, but I find it poetic and calming to consider. When I last had an impulsive desire to CTB this bridge called me. Thinking about it helps me.

Thanks for explaining. And, yes, there is a calmative aspect to suicidal ideation. When you put all of your concerns next to the thought of your non-existence, it has a way of helping to put things in perspective sometimes. I've definitely noticed that too.

 

[AllCatsAreGrey]

I just learned that even though pedestrian traffic isn't permitted, it's open to bicycles. This is great news as I don't drive.

Here is someone crossing it by bike:


More interesting info. This study shows 85% fatality from falling from a similar height bridge onto water.

 

[Egg]

I just learned that even though pedestrian traffic isn't permitted, it's open to bicycles. This is great news as I don't drive.

Here is someone crossing it by bike:


More interesting info. This study shows 85% fatality from falling from a similar height bridge onto water.

I don't want to know what happens to the 15%.

 

[AllCatsAreGrey]

I don't want to know what happens to the 15%.

I do. Trying to find any cases of survival from similar height bridges. I haven't been able to find one. Please share if you come across anything.

 

[Egg]

Not sure how high the Golden Gate is compared to this one but there are some survivor stories in "The Bridge" that might be relevant to your question.

The Bridge (2006) | WatchDocumentaries.com

Documentary about one of the world's most popular suicide spots, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Filmed over the course of a year, it captures a number of suicides and features interviews with the friends and family of some of the people identified to have jumped from the bridge.

watchdocumentaries.com

It's a very good documentary about people jumping off the Golden Gate bridge.

 

[AllCatsAreGrey]

Not sure how high the Golden Gate is compared to this one but there are some survivor stories in "The Bridge" that might be relevant to your question.

The Bridge (2006) | WatchDocumentaries.com

Documentary about one of the world's most popular suicide spots, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Filmed over the course of a year, it captures a number of suicides and features interviews with the friends and family of some of the people identified to have jumped from the bridge.

watchdocumentaries.com

It's a very good documentary about people jumping off the Golden Gate bridge.

Thanks. Also related to that share, I found this 1975 study that interviewed known survivors of GGB jumps. The medical injuries they sustained were minor. All landed feet first.

"The experience of jumping for all six of the survivors was described as tranquil and peaceful and not frightening or terrifying as one might suspect."

GGB is approx 4 times the height of the Astoria bridge. (Correction: That is the total height. It has a similar clearance below. GGB is 220' and Astoria is 197'.)

 

[Egg]

"All the survivors described this experience as tranquil and peaceful."

Reminds me of the joke: I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather did. Not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car.

I would not have expected people to find the jump peaceful. It seems terrifying.

The biggest hurdle for most people - and you can see this in the documentary too, where people end up stuck on the ledge for a long time unable to move - is the survival instinct that sets in once you get to the ledge. All of your genetic survival instincts kick in and resist you jumping. Just like if you hit the water and survive, you can't resist flailing around to try to prevent yourself from drowning.

As someone who is terrified of heights but thinks jumping might be the only sure way to ctb because of problems with pharmaceutical approaches, I don't know how capable I would actually be to take the leap. Maybe I'm just not desperate enough yet.

 

[AllCatsAreGrey]

Reminds me of the joke: I want to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather did. Not screaming in terror like the passengers in his car.

I had to read that a couple times. That got a good chuckle. Dieing in your sleep seems the most ideal way to go.

The biggest hurdle for most people - and you can see this in the documentary too, where people end up stuck on the ledge for a long time unable to move - is the survival instinct that sets in once you get to the ledge.

This is very true and definitely the biggest issue.

As someone mentioned:

Good luck, as I haven't known a single person on here that has actually jumped. Even if it is their preferred method.

 

[Egg]

I had to read that a couple times. That got a good chuckle. Dieing in your sleep seems the most ideal way to go.



This is very true and definitely the biggest issue.

As someone mentioned:

True, I haven't seen statistics for jumping overall but just looking at the numbers for individual bridges like Astoria Megler, less than 10 reported jumps in 10 years relative to half a million suicides in America every year means jumping is probably relatively rare because of the instinctual fear response.
The paradox is that popping a pill feels less scary but is actually less reliable. Jumping feels scarier but is less risky regarding the outcome. Our instincts are not very reliable about this stuff.

 

[AllCatsAreGrey]

This issue around the small number of confirmed cases from the Astoria bridge is interesting to me.

In the Chinook observer article you shared earlier:
"There have been several suicides off the Astoria-Megler Bridge in the past couple of decades, but Oregon does not keep an official count, Don Hamilton, a Department of Transportation public information officer, said. 'We really don’t know,' he said."

GGB is famous for suicides and was built about 30 years before the Astoria bridge. The clearance is similar. I feel the state is making a conscious effort to reduce interest and info on the subject to deter people.

Your point around SI is definitely important, I just don't feel that the numbers given are close to actual.

 

[AllCatsAreGrey]

I haven't seen statistics for jumping overall

"Suicide and Attempted Suicide" by Geo Stone (1999) cited that only 2.2 percent of US suicides are from jumping. Interesting to note, the author says that local surveys often combine suicide with accidents, so the data isn't that accurate.