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Friday, August 24, 2012

Surviving A Jump To End It All

Hanns Jones survived a jump off Florida’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge. (Photo: Rich Halten)

Next week Here & Now will broadcast from Tampa, Fla., where, weather permitting, the Republican Party will hold its convention.

And in addition to political coverage, we’ll have stories about the city. And we start with one about the legacy of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

It’s a beautiful structure that, for nearly four miles, spans the mouth of Tampa Bay. The bridge is also the No. 1 place east of California that people go — to end their life.

Some drive from as far away as Minnesota to take the plunge. Since it opened in 1987, an estimated 241 people have attempted suicide from the bridge. Producer Rich Halten brings us the story of one lucky man, Hanns Jones, who jumped — and survived.

Florida’s Sunshine Skyway Bridge. (Photo Rich Halten)

Other stories from Friday's show

We welcome comments from all of our listeners. Post below. Please stay on topic and be civil. Comments may be moderated by us, but you are solely responsible for the content of your comments.

  • guest

    Just a quick correction on the article above.  The Sunshine Skyway actually connects St Pete and Bradenton to the south, not Tampa which is to the northeast.  

  • Newshound620

    What an incredible story told beautifully by Hanns Jones.

  • Clusterliver

    On today’s broadcast of “Surviving A Jump To End It All” your reporter stated that the Sunshine Skyway Bridge linked Tampa and St. Petersburg. The linking bridge instead is the Howard Frankland Bridge which, too, is a beautiful drive, especially at night. The Skyway runs between St. Pete and Palmetto.

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