Mr Hines said he never intended to tell his story because he was 'embarrassed', but changed his mind after a life-affirming talk to 120 students, many of whom had suicidal thoughts. In 2000, Kevin Hines jumped off the golden gate bridge due mental illnesses. Mr Hines said he had no intention of ever talking about his experience, and that he was embarrassed and extremely sad. 'I was on a show for suicide prevention and I mentioned that I thought there was this shark on this show and a man wrote into the show and he said, "Kevin, I'm so very glad you're alive, I was less than two feet away from you when you jumped". . After hed surfaced, he felt a creature nudging his body which he initially thought was a shark trying to eat him, and punched at it. Hines details his story in the new documentary that he produced, Suicide: The Ripple Effect, which opened across the United States in March 2018. But as darkness crept in, he knew that he would have to sleep on the cold, damp ground. If she hadnt stopped and asked, the outcome might have been very different. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. After he surfaced, he felt a creature nudging his body which was a sea lion helping to keep Hines afloat until he was rescued by the Coast Guard. Her work has also been featured in Smithsonian and shes designed several book covers in her career as a graphic artist. New York Times bestselling author, world-renowned interviewer, keynote speaker and host of the podcast Big Questions. A man in a Coast Guard uniform laid him down on a stretcher. When he woke in the morning, he found that three beavers had curled up beside him and kept him from freezing to death. 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Altsmans husband was away when she collapsed on the floor, so her quick-thinking pig, LuLu, figured out how to get help. The creature was later identified as a sea lion by a witness. She told the authorities that while her kidnappers had beaten her, the animals had never threatened her. He is one of only thirty-six (less than 1%) to survive that fall. He was conscious the whole way down. The medication seemed to keep his epilepsy under control, so well in fact, that after six years with no episodes, doctors took him off it. The instant regret of jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge did not result in instant mental health recovery once Hines survived. I was nineteen years old and after leaving the Bridge, my firstthought was that I had made a terrible mistake. Perhaps even a dolphin animals that have been known to help people in danger. She thanked him and went on her way. He is a best-selling author, global public speaker, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. Pre-laundered to prevent shrinkage. Man who survived Golden Gate Bridge jump after being kept afloat by sea lion shares story with NSW Police suicide prevention conference. He was the 26 th of the 39 people who plunged into the frigid water that Fall who survived. PETA Leads the Charge: Inside the Global Effort to Take Down Exotic Skins, Ugandas First Vegan School Wins PETA Kindness Award, Diane Warren Is Standing With PETA to Help End the Iditarod, And the Winners of PETAs Sixth Annual Oscat Awards Are, PETA Scientists Join International Coalition Working to End Cosmetics Tests on Animals, NIH-Funded Scam Facility Shut Down; 108 Monkeys Seized in Colombia. About seven months after the jump, a hesitant Hines gave his first talk, to 120 seventh and eighth-graders. The bus dropped him off at a nearby parking lot. All the great iconic animals in the world are endangered, this is us doing our part to spread the word. "Several of them were actively suicidal, because of that we were able to get them help and it became what it is today and that's just travelling all over the place and trying to help one person in an audience.". He survived but was severely injured and trying to stay afloat in the churning, frigid water. For much of the time since that day 18 years ago, Kevin has devoted himself to stopping suicide. Thousands have communicated to Hines that his story helped save their lives. It looks like Kevin will realize his mission in the not-too-distant future. Current subscribers: You will continue to receive e-mail unless you explicitly opt out by clicking, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. 'I say believe it or dont, thats completely up to you. All Rights Reserved To those who read this, I say believe it or dont, thats completely up to you. A week later, with the police in pursuit, the kidnappers were attempting to move her to a new location when a pride of lions heard her plaintive cries and rushed in. Since it was erected in 1937, more than 1700 people are estimated to have jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge, and just 25 are known to have survived, according to Robert Olson of The Centre for Suicide Prevention in Calgary, Canada. Cal Fussman's 3-Minute Takeaway. For a long time, Kevin didnt know what it was. I know the truth, and in this case and that is all that matters. Be Here Tomorrow - SEA LION on TEAL. In that time, he had fleeting thoughts intertwined with a flood of emotion. On September 24, 2000, 19-year old Kevin Hines attempted to take his own life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge. "I think the message is very, very simple: you don't have to die this way. If even one person asked him if he was okay, he would confess everything and beg them to save his life. All of our shop proceeds will be donated to Zero Suicide International. shoes to wear with dress pants in winter; baltimore county inspection connection; iranian football players in europe; Hines story is definitely resonatinghe has over 19,000 followers on Twitter. Public Gets its First Look at Golden Gate Bridge Suicide Deterrent Net. Kevin Hines, The Man Who Survived Jumping Off The Golden Gate Bridge "It was the most horrid, emotional, turmoil even I've ever experienced, and I could not control myself.". ", "Man Survives Suicide Jump From Golden Gate Bridge", "Kevin Hines: Golden Gate Bridge jump survivor a shining beacon of hope", "Logan Paul returns to YouTube with a documentary about suicide survivors: 'I know I've let people down', "Logan Paul released a new video on suicide", "Robin Williams' Death Shows Suicide Can Strike At Any Age. The moment his fingers left the railing, he felt instant regret. He never thought anyone could relate to him and has tried to die by suicide several times in his life. Two weeks later, the children sent him letters. Now he has written a book about his experience, Cracked, Not Broken, and appears at conferences all over the world. Kevin Hines is a suicide survivor after jumping off of the Golde. But trust me: Kevin is intelligent, very well-meaning and he makes the world a better place. Mr Hines later found out that was not the case. Kevin Hines - Team Never Quit Podcast "I was a mess.". Lately,there seems to be quite a bit of debate as to whether or not a sea lion saved my life after I jumped from the Golden Gate Bridge in an attempt to end my life. When he was 19, Hines jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge. After she turned and walked away, he took three running steps. I didn't think I was going to make an impact, I didn't think I was going to help a soul. He is not a licensed clinician, nor does he give medical or psychiatric services. Now he is a suicide prevention speaker ABC News reported that Hines began hearing voices in his head telling him to die. However, this marine animal (whatever it was) just circled beneath me, bumping me up. His lower vertebrae were fractured, his legs werent working, and he propelled himself to the surface using only his arms, gasping for air. The Latest The Bloodiest Shows: Why We Watch Violent Television and How it Affects Us We might be living in. Then, take a look at these heartbreaking photos from the scene of Kurt Cobains suicide. He urges people to realize suicide is not an answer and that getting treatment for mental illness is a necessity. Kevin Hines, in Australia to speak at several conferences, was a teenager struggling with mental illness and depression when he jumped off the . Dr. Sanjay Gupta: If you see someone struggling with mental illness, don't turn away CNN Champions of Change. Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates. He jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge and survived. Now, he's - CNN The impact force was comparable to slamming into a concrete wall. I was going to end the pain.. Hines, 33, is now a mental health worker who shares his story of mental illness and depression at events around the world, hoping to prevent other suicide attempts. Doctors surgically repaired Hines physical injuries and after four weeks, he entered psychiatric care at St. Francis Hospital in San Francisco, the first of seven in-patient stays to deal with depression, paranoia, and hallucinations. In 2016, Mental Health America awarded Kevin their highest honor, The Clifford W. Beers Award for his efforts to improve the lives of and attitudes toward people with mental illnesses. "I'm one of less than one per cent to have survived that fall," he said. It was a Monday, Kevin Hines recalls. This suicidal person "needs to hear what I needed to hear. However, I know that it was a sea lion and it is not a statistic anomaly. "[I was] in the water desperately trying to stay alive and stay afloat, [and] I guess you would call it a mammal began swimming beneath me and I'm thinking, 'Oh man, a shark is about to devour me'," he said. Previously, he was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the National Council of Behavioral Health in partnership with Eli Lilly. His story was featured in the 2006 film The Bridgeby the film director and producer Eric Steel. MUST LISTEN!https://youtu.be/dKoYaVTgW6QEmma Gingerich On Leaving The Amish Community And Starting A New Lifehttps://youtu.be/c85Bhg6aCXITHIS Could Be The Reason Why You Are Not Winning | Craig Ballantyne | World's Most Disciplined Manhttps://youtu.be/X95kgk0z0xIOther Videos You Will Lovehttps://youtu.be/x3BRU06Fvuwhttps://youtu.be/AFAE7CMVM_Qhttps://youtu.be/FMK8xAUy2nwDo you want to learn more from Spencer Lodge? I tried to punch it thinking it might bite me. 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My father was an emotional wreck and he nearly fell out of his chair. Others claim the total is much higher. What You Need to Know About Narcissistic Relationships, The Critical Inner Voice That Causes Depression Webinar Resources, How to Succeed in Life Without Really Trying. He headed toward the Golden Gate Bridge, and paced it for about 40 minutes. For confidential support contact Lifeline on 131 114 (Australia), the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1800 273 8255 (US), or Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90 (UK). But his body would mend before his psyche. Just then, a woman with blonde, curly hair and sunglasses approached him. I am privileged to meet every single person along this journey. Be Here Tomorrow - SEA LION on TEAL. He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: 'I guess you would call it a mammal began swimming beneath me and I'm thinking, "Oh man, a shark is about to devour me". Kevin Hines now has a metal plate in his spine. @KevinHines would be dead right now had a SEA LION not saved his life after he jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge.Almost 2,000 people have committed suicide by jumping off the second most-used suicide site in the world. Narcissistic relationships are formed when one or both partners struggle with a narcissistic personality. But just as he flew over the guardrail, the point of no return, he changed his mind. Eighteen years ago, on September 25th, a young man named Kevin Hines got on a bus in San Francisco that was headed toward the Golden Gate Bridge. The problem, I unknowingly gave him my fathers email address. Known as a suicide barrier, the net is set to be completed in January 2021. Its OK! he thought. My dad was not prepared for, nor would he ever willingly want to see what came through to his inbox. The three lions chased off the men and sat quietly with the girl until the police arrived, then disappeared back into the brush. An All Thats Interesting writer since 2013, Erin Kelly focuses on historic places, natural wonders, environmental issues, and the world of science. 'The message is very very simple,' he told ABC. I called Morgan and I asked if he would email me the pictures he took. Kevin Hines Dark side of the Golden Gate The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the. kevin hines sea lion picture Cherish it always.". "If someone had looked at me on that bridge or on that bus and said that to me, I would have begged for help.". He obliged. Cherish it always.. Kevin HinesI survived a jump from the Golden Gate (February 25) I was actually very happy that morning, he told the Chronicle. Kevin Hines, Clinicians and first responders, Part 1 of Seven-Part He now works daily, and diligently, to manage continued symptoms that can include depression and hearing voices. A sea lion circled under him, bumping him up to the surface of the water and toward the shore. How to Get Your Mental Health Checked, https://www.huffingtonpost.com/kevin-hines/after-my-suicide-attempt-i-made-this-plan-to-stay-alive-and-well_b_9058776.html. Chad (not his real name) and I dated in high school. We want you and your loved ones to be safe and stay here so we always want to encourage you to seek support from these amazing providers; Text: CNQR to 741 741 Crisis Text Line (USA Only), Visit: www.suicide.org (International Phone Numbers). Eighteen years ago, on September 25th, a young man named Kevin Hines got on a bus in San Francisco that was headed toward the Golden Gate Bridge. He continues his policy work as an Ambassador to the National Council for Behavioral Health. [9] He turned himself around to land in the water legs first. Shortly after, Hines mental health began spiraling. During that first stay, Hines met a priest who encouraged him to share his story. Farm Heroes Saga, the #4 Game on iTunes. That one person can stop them. Confessions of a Man Who Has Never Had Sex With His Wife. Kevin Hines StoryKevin Hines stands on the beach overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. "When I resurfaced I was trying to stay afloat, thinking, 'I am going to drown.' Kevin Hines is a storyteller. Miraculously, I survived and despite my severe injuries, I was able to reach the surface of the water. With the click of a button it was gone. But how many of you thought, Really? Here are the facts: on September 25th, 2000 due to bipolar disorder and serious psychosis, I jumped off of the Golden Gate Bridge. 5 Times Animal Superheroes Rushed In and Saved Human Lives He urges anyone who sees someone suffering and upset, like he was that day on the Golden Gate Bridge, or whom they suspect may be having suicidal thoughts, to reach out. A sea lion, Hines says, kept pushing him above the water's surface until the Coast Guard rescued him. It came closer and closer and got underneath him. But once he jumped, all he recalls feeling is immediate regret and a will to live. If this story has raised concerns for you or someone you know, you can contact Lifeline 24 hours a day on 13 11 14. Kevin Hines is a storyteller, best-selling author, global public speaker, and award-winning documentary filmmaker. John Kevin Hines (born August 30, 1981) is an American suicide prevention speaker who attempted suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. 'However, I know that it was a sea lion and it is not a statistic anomaly. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, 'He is NOT a threat': Mental health advocate DEFENDS 6'6" thug, 17, who had to be dragged off unconscious female teaching aide who he knocked out for confiscating his Nintendo Switch, 'Are you a family annihilator, Mr Murdaugh?' We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. "When that happened, I said to my father, 'Dad we have to do this, anyway, anywhere we can.' Our latest release is an anti-poaching/animal slaughter anthem entitled Animals. Emotional: Mental health campaigner Kevin Hines told a conference yesterday how he survived a suicide attempt nearly 15 years ago - because a sea lion circled under him and kept him afloat. Eighteen years ago, on September 25th, a young man named Kevin Hines got on a bus in San Francisco that was headed toward the Golden Gate Bridge. What no one knew was that Tegretol was also working in the background to suppress what were the dramatic mood swings of bipolar disorder, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. U.S. only. Since the bridge opened in 1937, an estimated 2,000 people have done the same. Sea Lion Saves Golden Gate Bridge Jumper. "I have one request of people who are currently facing the struggle, who can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, Hines continues, "remember the light is there, the hope is there, you have to find a way to make it and find a way to move forward until you reach the hope.". And he spent more than a decade after he recovered lobbying the city of San Francisco to install a suicide net below the pedestrian walkway to prevent others from dying as he intended in the water below. Prosecutor ends explosive grilling with PROOF he lied to cops about his alibi the minute they arrived at the murder scene, Chinese-American Democrat Rep. slams 'racist' Republican who questioned her 'loyalty' and 'competence' and suggested she should be banned from viewing classified information, Finally a vaccine to banish Covid for good? AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), abc.net.au/news/suicide-survival-golden-gate-sea-lion-nsw-police-conference/6278280. When he was 19, Hines jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge. When Hines saw the first parts of the net, he wept and said, "This is one of the most special days of my life". As he was falling, he realized he didn't want to die. This year's theme was suicide . (Editor's note: Since 1937 approximately 1,800 people have ended their lives by jumping from this iconic bridge. He miraculous survived because a sea lion was bumping him up and kept his head above water. A pod of porpoises was swimming beside him, gently nudging his board toward the shore until he was close to land. Now, he's seeing his wish for a safety net come true", "He jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge . "As my father used to tell me, nothing good ever came without hard work. [10], American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, "This Guy Jumped Off The Golden Gate Bridge And Survived To Tell His Story", "Funding for Golden Gate Bridge suicide barrier approved - CNN", "Second Chances: 'I survived jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge', "This man jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge and lived", "Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado - Free Webinar- Kevin Hines Story: Triumph Over Adversity", "Lethal Beauty / A Survivor's Story: A jumper advocates for a barrier and makes a new life. Mental health advocate recalls suicide attempt and the sea lion that "[The doctor] stayed for another reason. A man who survived a suicide leap from the Golden Gate Bridge has told in detail how he was saved by a sea lion which kept him afloat until the coastguard arrived. 1. He has visited mental hospitals several times since his jump. Kevin showed him that he wasn't alone, Stephens says. A woman with a German accent did come up to him and asked him to take her picture at the bridge, but she did not mention anything about his tears or ask about his well-being. Here Are Ways To Prevent It", "r/books - Suicide survivor at Golden Gate Bridge (book by Kevin Hines)", "Best Story | Nice IFF 2018 Film Fest International", "Honoring Kevin Hines: "Mental Health Champion" Awardee - Young Minds Advocacy", "NoStigmas to host 'Celebrate Life' wellness fair Sept. 10 in Chicago", "Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients The Grahams & Kevin Hines Featured at National Council Conference", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kevin_Hines&oldid=1136207996, Surviving a suicide attempt by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge in 2000, Young Minds Advocacy: Mental Health Champion, National Council Community Behavioral Healthcare: Lifetime Achievement Award, This page was last edited on 29 January 2023, at 07:18. Several of the kids told Hines his talk made a difference and that they received the help they needed. A man who survived a suicide attempt off San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge and was kept afloat by a sea lion has relayed his story to a NSW Police suicide prevention conference. So there he was, 19 years old, sitting on that bus, crying, and hoping that one person would notice his tears, approach him and ask: If one person approached him, he decided, he wouldnt go through with it. Since the bridge opened in 1937, an estimated 2,000 people have done the same. The Sea Lion & The Guy Who Jumped Off The Golden Gate Bridge "The thing that changed my life forever," he says of the meeting. When Jo Ann Altsman suffered a heart attack, help came just in time in the form of a pot-bellied pig. Hines contemplated not jumping, reasoning that if any person showed that they cared about him, he would not commit suicide. Kevins goal is to spread a message of how he tried, through dedication and hard work, while following a treatment plan which his doctors, and clinicians set for him: to change his life and how he learned to live mentally well. Four seconds is all it took before Hines hit the water. The 4-second fall can be compared to the force of slamming into a concrete wall at 120km/h.If jumpers don't die from impact trauma, they generally die of hypothermia or drowning. "I'm now in a back brace and a [using a] cane, at church with my father and the priest I'd known all my life comes out and says 'come and talk to our students on Good Friday'," he said. It was like God sent him to us at a time when my husband needed it the most.". Repeatedly, courageous, compassionate animals show us that they dont deserve to be treated as food, clothing, laboratory equipment, performers for our amusement, or pests who are in our way. John Kevin Hines (born August 30, 1981) is an American suicide prevention speaker who attempted suicide by jumping from the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California. Additionally, Hines takes medication and sees a therapist. "[11] According to the San Francisco Magazine, he now works as a mental-health advocate.[12]. Sea lions are not uncommon in the San Francisco Bay in late summer when the herring spawn, but . "She called her friend in the coast guard, which is the only reason they arrived to my position within less than the time I [would have] set in hypothermia and drowned.". That is one of the things that turned my life around.". He fell headfirst. "I was freaking out," he says. Depressive cycles came in regular intervals; Thursdays and Fridays were the worst days. My father was an emotional wreck and he nearly fell out of his chair. Doctors who performed Altsmans open-heart surgery told her that she wouldnt have lived another 15 minutes. Hines helps suicidal people he has met in one-on-one situationsthrough social media and at his speeches. Thats when he felt a bump beneath him. Hines hopes that each time he tells his story, the hope he conveys to the suffering will enable them to open up, to realize, 'I can help myself today,'" Hines says.