A local sailor likely saved an elderly man's life on top of the Coronado Bridge on Monday morning.
Nicholas Pisano, who is an aircrewman, was on his way to work at Naval Air Station North Island.
"Being from San Diego, I know that bridge and what it's kind of known for, so anytime there's a car stopped on the side I'll make a habit of pulling over and making sure everyone's okay," Pisano explained.
The last two times, he said the people were having car trouble. Monday was different.
"I noticed a car pulling over in the right lane," he said.
He did not hesitate to pull over on top of the bridge, which is 200 feet above the water.
"Before I could even get out of my car I noticed a man getting out of his vehicle and starting to walk over to the ledge. So, I just jumped out of my car, I sprang over to him, I grabbed his arm, and I asked him what he was doing.
"He said he was going to jump. I said, 'Sorry sir, I can't let you do that'."
The man said he was sick.
"He was asking me, 'Please, I'm so close,' and I said, 'I'm sorry sir, I can't let you do that'."
Pisano did not have his phone, so he started waving cars down. A nurse stopped and talked him down.
"I just wanted to at least give this man, hopefully, a second shot at life and what he chooses to do with that is what he chooses to do, but I wasn't going to stand by and just let him do that," Pisano added.
He learned that in the Navy.
Pisano earned his wings of gold just days before saving the man in a place as high as the clouds.
When asked if he thought he was a hero; he said this, "Absolutely not."
He just hopes the man will be looking up, not down, knowing someone was looking out for him.
SUICIDE PREVENTION (24-HOUR HOTLINES)
San Diego County Crisis Line: 1-888-724-7240
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
