Early in the evening of Thursday, December 17, 2015, Engine 12 was dispatched to the Avenue 52 bridge over the Arroyo Seco Wash in Mt. Washington. A 25-year old man was threatening to jump from the bridge. When the unit arrived on scene, the jumper was crouched on the edge of the bridge on the opposite side of the three-foot guardrail, his torso hanging off the bridge and his hands gripping the railing. Had he jumped, the fall would have been approximately 30 feet onto dry concrete.
Intending to coax the jumper back to safety, Captain Shin Black attempted to establish a rapport with him, but his efforts only seemed to agitate the erratic and unpredictable jumper. While engaged with Black, he appeared to step off the bridge.
From where the firefighters were standing at the top of the bridge, it looked as if the man had jumped. But when they rushed forward, they found him still dangling from the bridge, gripping the railing with one hand.
With no safety equipment other than brush jackets and helmets, and at great personal peril, firefighters Zach Robinson and Daniel Goen braced themselves against the railing and attempted to lift the jumper, who weighed approximately 275 pounds, back over the railing to safety. But because he had gone completely limp, Robinson and Goen were pulled forward and nearly tumbled over themselves. Black tugged at their belts, but he too, was pulled forward by the dead weight of the jumper. All the while, the firefighters were attempting to console the man, who repeatedly stated he was tired and wanted to give up.
As the group edged further over the railing, Engineer Timothy Aguayo rushed to their aid. Working together, all four members of Engine 12 were able to haul the jumper to safety, securing him back on the sidewalk until LAPD and CHP units could arrive to assist.
The jumper was transported to the hospital. His life was saved only because of the quick and selfless actions of the members of Engine 12.
The Medal of Merit shall be awarded to sworn personnel who distinguish themselves by performing an act where the member’s actions, if not taken, would have resulted in serious injury or present imminent danger to life. The member must have demonstrated a conspicuous act of bravery with calculated risk to his or her own life. Having met all these qualifications, Shin Black, Zach Robinson, Daniel Goen and Timothy Aguayo were awarded with Medals of Merit.