Man Jumps Off CamSur Bridge, Saved by Army Rescue Team

A raw video footage of the quick and successful rescue by 31st IB DRO Team.

31st IB DRO Team successfully rescued a depressed man after jumping off Tara Bridge in Sipocot, Cam Sur yesterday, September 6, 2010.

CAMP ELIAS ANGELES, Pili, Camarines Sur – A depressed man jumps off Tara bridge in Camarines Sur as the Army’s Rescue Team was conducting training yesterday morning, a military report said.

2nd Lieutenant Michael Castro, the leader of the 31st Infantry Battalion’s Disaster Response Operations (DRO) Team, said that his group was conducting rope course exercises in Tara bridge in Sipocot town when a man suddenly leaped from the 40-meter bridge at around 10:00am.

Castro identified the victim as a certain Charlie Abella, 35, of Beguito village of Libmanan town.

Relatives who rushed to the scene said that Abella was suffering severe depression due to his family problems.

“We were having our practical exercises in rope courses and water search and rescue (WASAR) when we heard a loud thump a few meters from our position,” Castro said.

“We got the shock of our life when we found out that a man attempted to kill himself by jumping from the bridge and into the shallow water which was only about knee-level. We immediately placed him to our spine board and we put our combat life-saver training to test,” added Castro.

The soldiers promptly transported the unconscious victim to Bicol Medical Center for treatment of the multiple injuries that he sustained. He is now declared out of danger by attending physicians.

The Army in Bicol has activated the Disaster Response Operations (DRO) teams as its ‘rapid deployment force’ during natural calamities.

All brigades and battalions in the Bicol Region have organized and trained their own DRO teams.

These rescue teams are trained on Rope Technician’s Course, Mountain Operations Search and Rescue (MOSAR), Water Search and Rescue (WASAR) and Spineboard training.

The 9th Infantry Division’s rescue team emerged as the over-all champion during the disaster response and rescue competition held in Legaspi about two months ago. Competing teams from various agencies around the country participated in the said competition.

Major General Ruperto Pabustan, Commander of the 9th Infantry Division has lauded Castro and his men for their acts of heroism by saving someone’s life.