The George Washington Bridge, which spans the Hudson River between New York and New Jersey, is a busy thoroughfare for cars, pedestrians, and cyclists—including one whose weekly trip across the bridge was paused by a (literal) life-or-death encounter. Julio De Leon was on his bike when he spotted a dog tethered to a rail on the bridge, which was "something unusual." Then he noticed a young man close by, standing on the ledge over the river. It was 5:30 p.m., and the police wouldn't be able to arrive quickly in the thick of rush hour traffic, so De Leon took action himself. De Leon recalled, "I said: 'Don't do it. We love you, my heart,' something like that." He grabbed onto him, and with the help of another passerby, brought the now-emotional man to safety. Even then, however, according to one news report, "Mr. De Leon did not let go of [him] once he was safe."

Possible Preaching Angle:

Ah, what a Savior we have—the One who seeks and finds us, showers us with love and then won't let us go.

Source:

Jim Dwyer, “On a Bridge, a Quick-Thinking Cyclist Saves a Life on the Ledge,” The New York Times (8-4-16)