Residents help thwart suicide attempt on bridge

Two local residents and Swansboro police helped stop an apparent suicide attempt on the White Oak River Bridge Tuesday.

“We were able to prevent any injury or loss of life,” Swansboro Police Chief Ed Parrish said of the incident that occurred on one of the bridges between Swansboro and Carteret County.

Police received a call at 8:40 a.m. about a female threatening to jump from the bridge.

Parrish said the woman was straddling the railing when he arrived. She was talking to Sheila Fulcher, of Hubert, and John Naccarato, of Peletier, who stopped to try to keep her from jumping.

Fulcher and Naccarato held her attention as Parrish moved in behind her.

“I was able to grab her and hold her to the railing until we were able to get her secure and into a vehicle,” Parrish said.

Once she was safe, emergency medical personnel responded and she was taken to Onslow Memorial Hospital.

Parrish did not give her name but said the woman lives in the Hubert area and had been suffering from depression.