Bridge claims 65th victim
2007-12-28 19:00
Johannesburg - The Van Stadens bridge in the Gamtoos valley in Jeffrey's Bay - infamous for suicides - has claimed its 65th victim, Eastern Cape police said on Friday.
On Thursday evening, a siren went off warning police that there was someone on the bridge; the Thornhill police responded immediately.
"On arrival at the bridge, members noticed that a man was standing on the outside railing of the bridge; then members suddenly saw the person jumping off the bridge" said police spokesperson Inspector Gerda Swart in a statement.
"If you stand on the bridge it's very, very high. It's a vast long bridge and there is a river flowing under it. At 05:00 [police] went out this [Friday] morning" to look for the man," said Swart.
The body of the man was recovered at 08:00.
Police said no identifying documents or a suicide letter could be found to identify the man.
The man was wearing a black t-shirt and white trousers.
His height is estimated to have been about 1.78 metres and his weight 105 kg.
Anyone who might be able to identify the man is asked to contact Detective Inspector Heinrich Rheeder on 042-286-6200.
Thornhill police have opened an inquest into the man's death, said Swart.
- SAPA