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2023 jump events

updated: 07.17.23
25 years of skyway jumper news.
we post everything we know.
have any factual news, updates, or additions?
(our comments follow)
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07.19.23: florida man news - fleeing from deputies, man jumps into gulf at the skyway, to avoid arrest after critically stabbing and burning victim.
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07.17.23: possible jumper
unknown
thank you, jumpnews reporter:
07.17.23, James, Pinellas, Black male mid to late 40s bald head no facial hair walking on bike stopped on south bound lane by fence looking over wearing black pants and blue shirt I called it in to FHP any news on this did they catch him or did he Jump? (yours is the only report we received.)

any more info is welcome.
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06.21.23: jumper, male, survived, jumped from 20 feet
unknown
thank you, jumpnews reporter:
06.22.23, anon, Yesterday morning. Male parked car on base of bridge sb manatee side and jumped approx 20 ft. During horrible lightning storm. Pulled from water after about 45 min., Seemed stable

any more info is welcome.
06.21.23, IONTBfb, Skyway Bridge: Watch for slowdowns in the southbound lanes on the Manatee County side due emergency vehicles in the outside lanes.
facebook article posts,
06.22.23, Lee N., Im surprised you reported this! Ive jumped in deeper pools...
06.23.23, it was a coin toss. while it's not like a classic on high jump, it was a jump from the bridge, so it was added on a technicality. besides, under the weather circumstances, this individual could have ended up with a similar outcome, if indeed self-death was his goal.

06.24.23, Jean S., I actually thank you for posting this. As I was driving over the Skyway and saw the empty vehicle, ambulances on the Skyway and on the Fishing Pier, emergency personnel looking over the side and numerous boats in the water, I really wanted to know what did happen. Even a jump from 20 ft with the amount of debris and structure under the bridge could lead to death or the currents could lead to drowning. I was concerned and I am happy to know the outcome.
06.24.23, you could stick any number of random people in the water at that exact location, early in the morning, during a major storm, and i bet a fairly high percentage of them would not survive, unless rescued in time. it's not the 20 foot drop that would get you, it's the exposure and inability to manage in the water that would do you in.

06.24.23, Rebecca R., Can assure you this case was an attempted suicide. He’s going to be ok.
06.24.23, pleased to know, thank you. hopefully he will gain a new perspective on this second chance.
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06.18.23: possible jumper, 1:00am
unknown
thank you, jumpnews reporter:
06.18.23, Marie, Pinellas, regarding: Possible Jumper, Around 1am 6/18 I seen a man walking up towards the skyway. Shortly after police were at the top. Would like to know if something happened to that man. I wish i would of made a call when i seen him.

any more info is welcome.
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04.14.23: save, female, 4:15am
unknown
thank you, jumpnews reporters:
04.14.23, anon, facebook, Subject taken into custody at approx 4:15am this am on top of the skyway. SPPD got her on top of the bridge and she had intention of jumping.

04.14.23, Gayle, St pete, Incident on skyway (vague, but thank you.)

any more info is welcome.
facebook article posts
open request to this person: care to tell your story?
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03.03.23: jumper, male, lived, jumped from below the barrier line.
unknown, 22
thank you, jumpnews reporter:
03.04.23, Unknown, Confirmed jumper South side

03.04.23, Jason L., facebook, someone is in the water right now

03.04.23, anon, Jumper. Most units called off search but victim was located hours later, alive. Car left on bridge. In the water for approx 7 hrs. Picked up by uscg, Transported to Bayfront, Male in early 20s, Vehicle was near where net stopped, Exact jump site unknown. FD responded about 1230 but he may have jumped closer to 9 or 930, FD went available about 215

any more info is welcome.
03.04.23, Hillsborough Sheriff, ASSIST OTHER AGENCY, Service Date: 03/04/2023 @ 00:33, Time Cleared: 6:29, 5h56m, report #23250171
03.04.23, IONTBfb, Skyway Bridge: Police activity on the southbound lanes of I-275. Right shoulder blocked. later: The subject jumped from the bridge. He left the car at the start of the fence. Fire rescue was called to the bridge by FHP at about 12:35am. Reports that the jump took place between 9 and 10pm. Fire rescue called off the search at about 2:30am. The victim was located by the USCG at about 4:30am. He was transported to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg. comments:
• 03.04.23, Mike M., I'm thinking so, drove past about 30 min ago, handful of cops looking over the side
• 03.04.23, Richard R., I’m on the old pier there was definitely someone in the water I don’t know if anyone was found it’s 3 and they’re still on the bridge more: theyre still flying helicopters almost 3a
• 03.04.23, Angel U., Its been an active scene since 12:30am

03.04.23, iontb.com, US Coast Guard rescues man from the Gulf nearly 8 hours after he jumped from the Skyway Bridge
The crew from the US Coast Guard (USCG) rescued a male in his 20s from the Gulf of Mexico at approximately 4:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reported a vehicle parked in the southbound lanes of bridge, near the start of the fence, and suspected a person jumped from the bridge.
The 45774 crew from the USCG launched along with St. Petersburg Fire Rescue and began searching the area of the bridge.
The fire rescue crews terminated their search efforts at approximately 2:30 a.m., however the USCG continued to search throughout the morning. At approximately 4:30 a.m., the victim was spotted and rescued near Egmont Key after being dragged by a barge and having been in the water for nearly 8 hours.
The victim was alert and conscious and transported back to the USCG station to meet with fire rescue crews for transport to Bayfront Health St. Petersburg.
Earlier, this same crew, assisted with the rescue of 4 people after their boat capsized in Tampa Bay.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a trained listener, call 988. Visit 988lifeline.org for crisis chat services or for more information.

03.06.23, fox13news.com, Man rescued from waters near Egmont Key spotted by mother and son aboard cruise ship, Coast Guard says.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Photos provided by the Coast Guard show the moment rescue teams pulled a man from the water near Egmont Key on Saturday.
The location was about three nautical miles from where the man fell into the water near the Skyway Bridge.
"It is just a needle in the haystack honestly," said Petty Officer 3rd Class Justin Swaim.
The man was first spotted by a mother and son onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, and the son quickly called it in, according to Coast Guard crew members.
But rescuers still had other issues - the pitch black darkness, and the fact that a passing barge's wake had dragged the man out for miles.
The Coast Guard said he didn't have a life jacket on.
"He’s incredibly lucky, number one that we found him and number two that we found him with little injury," Swaim said. "It's a miracle honestly."
He had been in the water for some eight hours, according to the Coast Guard.
Had it not been for the mother and son who spotted him from the cruise ship, this story may have ended much differently.
"That son had no idea what was going on, but because he was so diligent and called 911 without any hesitation was the reason we saved a life," Swaim said.
a comment:
03.08.23, Clancy, Thanks Fox for not even mentioning that it was a suicide attempt, censoring it even saying he "fell". Maybe if they were so worried about copycats they should stop reporting murders or mass shooters, or any crime if you think about it. Hiding it doesn't solve anything. Hope this guy gets the proper help he needs. (the media is skilled at reporting the news, as how they want you to believe it.)
facebook article posts,
03.09.23, Kelly O., Did anyone report what kind of car he had? The make and color? I drive the bridge six days a week and was wondering if it was one of the cars seen up there earlier that week. I am interested in knowing if he did a test run before that day. (anyone?)
open request to this person: care to tell your story?
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02.24.23: possible jumper, 9:15pm
unknown
thank you, jumpnews reporter:
02.24.23, Violet, St. Pete, On Friday, February 24th at 9:15pm there was an older model, green, SUV (Tahoe or similar) blocking traffic in the right northbound lane. It’s hazards were on and it was stopped right where the fence begins nearing the top of the skyway bridge. A cop was there with his lights flashing but I did not see an occupant in the vehicle.

any more info is welcome.
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02.21.23: possible something, 9:25pm
unknown
thank you, jumpnews reporter:
02.21.23, Kelly, St. Petersburg, FL., (9:25pm), Possible Jumper- I was traveling in the northbound lane going over the Skyway Bridge at 9:25pm this evening (2/21/23) There was a tiny blue car parked at the very top. (Possibly electric) I did not see anyone.

any more info is welcome.
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   the jump records for 2021 and 2022, continue to prove that the barrier has been a positive deterrent to people jumping off the bridge. we will update as things come along. new additions to this site will be listed here. feel free to contribute.

   if you are having trouble dealing with life and everything that comes with it, make the effort to find and use the help that is available to you. life is indeed worth living.

   remember, you are responsible for your own well being. love who you are and who you can be. always maintain an effort to improve upon yourself and allow no one to affect that. rid yourself of those that hold you back, no matter who they are. be they stranger, friend, or even family, lose the destructive forces tearing you down. end your addictions, be they drugs, alcohol, love, social media, and/or whatever consumes you to a negative degree. better yourself. associate with those that care about you. become stronger and healthier in body and mind. by all means, talk to people that can help you.

   do keep an eye on your friends and family members that may be despondent and depressed. check in on those that need checking in on. a few kind words and a helping hand, may be all it takes to send them down a better path. be well, everyone.
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 twenty five years of this
thank you, one and all, for 25 years of skyway jumper history.

facebook article posts,
01.02.23, Nina R., I spent so many hours on this site the last couple years. The guys that run it are swell people. They get flooded with hate mail, but it is a well done site! Check it out. (thank you for calling us out on our swellness, but it probably wouldn't stand up in court.)

01.02.23, Rachel Z., Thank you for reporting the truth. (thank you. seems on many levels, the truth doesn't really matter anymore.)

03.06.23, Sherri G., Thank you for all you do 🥰. (you're welcome, but the thanks go to those that support the website and what it entails, so thank you too.)

05.06.23, Joe Winko, I honestly feel like if it wasn't for this site, the whole bridge barrier wall would have never been built ❤ despite it being really sad, this site helped me a lot more than people know ❤ i'm thankful for it ❤ (thank you, Joe, you are unique and original. keep being you. thanks for all you do.)
 
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