Two men help rescue suicidal woman from San Gabriel River in Long Beach

A pair of bystanders helped emergency responders rescue a woman at around noon Wednesday who apparently tried to end her life by driving into the San Gabriel River.

The rescuers included Robert Smith of Westminster, who was fishing with his grandson at a spot near where the river flows under Pacific Coast Highway.

Smith heard a loud noise coming from the river’s direction, and after approaching the river’s easte bank to find out what happened, encountered another bystander. The men saw a vehicle bobbing in the river and ran across the PCH bridge to the river’s weste bank in order to aid the motorist.

Smith swam toward the car and said the woman inside the vehicle resisted his efforts to help, even swimming back into the sinking vehicle after being extricated during the rescue effort.

A Fish and Game Warden arrived about that time. The warden swam into the water and helped pull the woman to safety.

“The second I pulled her out, the second I and him pulled her out, the car went under,” Smith said.

Long Beach responders, including lifeguards and paramedics, were also on scene.

Battalion Chief Mike Garcia said the woman deliberately drove into the river. Garcia said no one else appeared to be in the vehicle and that the woman will receive medical care.

Advertisement