Erskine Bridge today

[Drive Blind]

anybody know what happened?

For a while at approx 11am it was closed north and southbound. No warnings, no signs, no diversions posted. Just police cars blocking each route onto the bridge. Including one sitting at the bottom of the path.

Would they do something like this for a 'special' load coming to or from Faslane/Coulport?

or is it more likely to have been a jumper?

[frag68]

I was over the bridge today about 1pm and no sign of anything

[SteellFJ]

Was chatting to someone yesterday and this was mentioned, it was a young guy trying to jump, her sister house looks right onto the bridge.

He didn't do it after the police had a word it seems, good on them and hopefully the guy fights his demons now!

[Martin_M]

I've heard that it's like hitting concrete at that height....not a pleasant way to go. Glad they talked the guy down.

[bigwheel]

Martin_M said:

I've heard that it's like hitting concrete at that height....not a pleasant way to go. Glad they talked the guy down.

Who told you that?

[TheJimi]

Martin_M said:

I've heard that it's like hitting concrete at that height....not a pleasant way to go. Glad they talked the guy down.

You'd need to be spectacularly lucky (or unlucky, depending on one's view!) to hit the water from the height of that bridge and register anything, much less survive.

SteellFJ said:

...it was a young guy trying to jump...

A good friend of mine jumped and killed himself a few years ago. The erection of the barriers on the bridge prompted discussion between myself and friends, with the question being of the new barriers their effectiveness in stopping our friend from jumping. The answer we arrived at was no.

He was a very fit and strong guy, so they wouldn't have stopped him, but the associated faff to get over the barrier may have given him pause, but we'll never know

They certainly may well stop kids or less able people though.

Edited by TheJimi on Friday 24th July 16:06

[bigblock]

TheJimi said:

You'd need to be spectacularly lucky (or unlucky, depending on one's view!) to hit the water from the height of that bridge and register anything, much less survive.

The Erskine Bridge deck height is approx 45m above the Clyde which would equate to an impact speed of around 65mph, in most cases this would be fatal. However if a hydrodynamic shape was adopted (feet first,body rigid and arms crossed over chest) then this height would be survivable. However making a good hydrodynamic shape is probably not foremost on the mind of those unfortunates who do jump off the bridge.

[Martin_M]

TheJimi said:

Martin_M said:

I've heard that it's like hitting concrete at that height....not a pleasant way to go. Glad they talked the guy down.

You'd need to be spectacularly lucky (or unlucky, depending on one's view!) to hit the water from the height of that bridge and register anything, much less survive.

SteellFJ said:

...it was a young guy trying to jump...

A good friend of mine jumped and killed himself a few years ago. The erection of the barriers on the bridge prompted discussion between myself and friends, with the question being of the new barriers their effectiveness in stopping our friend from jumping. The answer we arrived at was no.

He was a very fit and strong guy, so they wouldn't have stopped him, but the associated faff to get over the barrier may have given him pause, but we'll never know

They certainly may well stop kids or less able people though.

Edited by TheJimi on Friday 24th July 16:06

I had always thought 'jumpers' died from drowning but it was only after discussion I found out it was from the impact.