Student Survives Jump From Golden Gate Bridge

[The Straight Story]

Student Survives Jump From Golden Gate Bridge

field trip that included a walk along the Golden Gate Bridge ended with a student jumping off the bridge Thursday morning.

The unnamed student survived and was taken to San Francisco General Hospital, where he was reportedly being treated for injuries. Windsor High School superintendent Bill McDermott said the boy did not suffer any life threatening injuries. The boy's only complaint to paramedics on the scene was soreness and some bruising.

Witnesses said surfers came to his rescue and helped him to shore.

CBS 5 reporter Joe Vazquez tweeted that the jump was not a suicide attempt, but instead was done on a dare by fellow students. Vazquez spoke to a surfer who said the classmates were cheering the boy as he jumped.

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/North-Bay-Student-Survives-Jump-From-Golden-Gate-Bridge-117769468.html

[sakabatou]

1. A dare?! A people that fucking stupid?!

Yes, yes they are.

[pokerfan]

6. maybe it was a triple-dog dare...

because those can be hard to ignore.

It should be noted that he didn't jump from the center of the bridge which is 250 feet above the water but rather from an area between Fort Point and the South tower, which is about 220 feet above the water.

250 feet? That would have been insane. But 220, that's completely... pretty much the same.

[WingDinger]

2. There are laws against enticing suicide, or even cajoling it.

[Lance_Boyle]

7. Care to share those CA laws here?

'Cuz last I checked it was not illegal to dare someone to do something, even if that something is remarkably stupid and/or likely to result in serious injury or death.

[WingDinger]

9. A guy just went to jail for talking the vulnerable into suicides, online.

[IDemo]

10. California Penal Code § 401 - Aiding, Advising, or Encouraging Suicide

http://handslegal.com/index.php/California_Penal_Code/Part_1._OF_CRIMES_AND_PUNISHMENTS/Title_10._OF_CRIMES_AGAINST_THE_PUBLIC_HEALTH_AND_SAFETY/California_Penal_Code_%C2%A7_401_-_Aiding_Advising_or_Encouraging_Suicide.html

Every person who deliberately aids, or advises, or encourages another to commit suicide, is guilty of a felony.

CREDIT(S)

(Formerly § 400, added by Code Am.1873-74, c. 614, p. 433, § 34. Renumbered § 401 and amended by Stats.1905, c. 573, p. 770, § 11.)

[Raine]

3. I wonder if he was drunk or on drugs to take a dare

like that, geesh. :-( People sure can be stupid.

[markpkessinger]

12. More likely he was a typical teen who thought himself invincible n/t

[Exultant Democracy]

4. Survived a 220 foot jump, that kid is going to be a handful to deal with after this.

[Sonoman]

5. "If she asked you to jump off a bridge, you'd probably do it."

If I only had a dollar for every time my dear mother said that.

Sonoman

[apocalypsehow]

8. A dare? Dog have mercy, but that's some serious stooooopid right there. n/t.

[uppityperson]

11. 75 mph

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2587/could-you-jump-off-a-bridge-or-a-tall-building-and-survive-the-fall

(clip)The key to survival appears to be vertical entry. Your little brain is right, Paul--there's a difference between landing on water and landing on concrete, namely you can't dive into concrete. The 17-year-old male survivor said he may have touched bottom, perhaps 20 to 25 feet down--plenty of room to disperse the force of impact. In contrast, Kid Courage's body never sank beneath the surface, meaning he'd gone from 75 mph (a Golden Gate leaper's peak speed) to zero in maybe six inches.

Beyond a certain point even Olympic form won't save you. One expert claims the upper limit for surviving water entry is around 80 mph. Presumably it's less if you're hitting something solid. Still, the literature teems with spectacular exceptions:(more)