A kayaker and his dog paddling down a New Jersey river Sunday rescued a man who police say jumped off a bridge in an apparent suicide attempt.
Police in Little Ferry responded to the scene at about 8:30 a.m. after being alerted by a witness who saw the man jump into the Hackensack River about 5 miles west of New York City.
When officers arrived, they saw the kayaker, who had a dog as his passenger, throw the 55-year-old Garfield man a line, which he grabbed. The kayaker then pulled the man toward the riverbank, and the man eventually stood up and walked ashore, where emergency responders were waiting.
The kayaker continued to paddle downriver after the rescue, and authorities were trying to locate him so they could thank him for his assistance.
It wasn't clear if the man who jumped suffered any injuries. He was being evaluated at a hospital.
SUICIDE PREVENTION: If you know someone who needs help, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
