Watch CBS News

PA State Trooper Pulls Man From Parking Garage Ledge In Dramatic Rescue

by Todd Quinones

WEST READING, Pa., (CBS) – A state trooper goes out on the ledge of a parking garage to save a man from hurting himself.

It all happened at Reading Hospital Sunday morning.

Trooper Edgardo Lugo and Corporal Douglas Bendetti of the Pennsylvania State Police were responding to a call at around 9:30 a.m. of a patient who appeared distraught.

The picture is taken right as Lugo pulls the patient off the ledge from the third story of a parking garage.

It's a once in a lifetime moment and it was captured in this photograph.

"When I had my opportunity I grabbed the top of his shoulders and pulled him back from the ledge," said Lugo.

Lugo is 6'3' and weighs 230 pounds.  Fortunately for the patient, the trooper is also a personal trainer.

As the picture shows, it took a lot of strength along with perfect timing to pull the grown man to safety.

You can see Corporal Bendetti at the top of the screen trying to talk to the patient.

"He wasn't responding.  I felt he could go at any second, we had one option to grab him," said Bendetti.

From the looks of it, it would've been about a 30 foot drop to the ground if things had gone wrong.

As for saving the man's life, it didn't really hit Trooper Lugo until after his shift.

"I got home and realized what happened. I'm glad he's ok," said Lugo.

The patient is receiving medical treatment.

The person who took the picture wants to remain anonymous.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.