Budapest police avert suicide on Petőfi Bridge

On June 7, two Budapest police sergeants, Szilágyi Zsolt and Bajkó József Dávid, responded to a distress call about a man threatening to jump from the railings of the Petőfi Bridge. Using specially trained intervention techniques, they approached the man from both sides, engaged him in conversation, and when he turned his head they swiftly grabbed his clothing and pulled him back onto the safe side of the barrier. The man, having already shot himself in the arm, struggled to resist, but the officers restrained him and secured him with handcuffs until emergency services arrived. The rescue was captured on video by a passer‑by and later released by local media.

The incident highlights the police’s role in crisis intervention and the availability of free helpline numbers for individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts.