For a very long time, we have seen people become heroes in the most unforeseen of ways.
From burning school buses to stopping a kidnapping, preventing assassination etc. That may all lead to one’s death especially the one deciding to become a hero.
The stories we hear are unbelievable, but the one you’re going to read right now is one of the sweetest stories from 2013.
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On this fateful day, Darnell Barton a bus driver in Buffalo, New York spent the morning in question the same as any other ordinary day. He had just picked up passengers along his everyday route when he noticed something strange going on down the road as he was taking on that route.
As he made his way over a bridge, he saw a young woman more of a lady climb over the guardrail and stand, gazing down at the cars rushing by below.
Unsure if she was a danger to herself or to the people in the vicinity, Darnell Barton decided to stop his bus and check on her to verify whether everything was alright. Had it not been for Barton, things would have gone much differently that day for both Darnell Barton and this young woman.
He stopped his bus in the middle of the road and called out to the young woman though she hesitantly looked up at him then back at the pavement below to her original position. Unsure of her next move, Barton decided it was time to act sensing that something bad was going to happen.
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“Hey miss, why don’t we come back on this side of the rail for me please?”
Darnell said, before getting off his bus.
He then said,
“Madam, you look like you’re having a bad day, Can I give you a hug?”
Barton having been trained as a volunteer firefighter and peacekeeper a while back before deciding to be a bus driver remembered some of the tactics that are used and necessary in such situations, one of them was that once contact is made with someone who is suicidal, that connection shouldn’t be broken for if it’s broken all would be for nothing.
He went on to contact the police for help and dispatch picked up asking him for his location and telling them to send someone to assist the young lady.
Unable to clarify how long it would take for the police to get to the scene Barton resolved to stay with the young lady until the police arrived.
Barton gently helped her climb back over the rail and sat with her until officers arrived. In the meantime, he asked the young woman a couple of questions and learned she was a student, but could also tell there were some major things going on in her life that needed urgent attention and had prompted her to commit suicide.
“While I was holding her, listening to her questions, I just prayed,”
the bus driver said.
Whatever was going through the young woman’s mind was a lot for her to process and take in as she was in bad shape considering the conversation they were having with the bus driver.
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The officers finally arrived and Barton went on his way to continue with his day to day duties.
His action and bravery did not go unnoticed by the people who were around at the scene and by the police officers. This action won him a standing ovation from all 20 students and other passengers for his inspiring act of kindness towards this young woman for he had saved her life.
The pictures capture the moments that Barton went through to rescue the young lady showing her leaning over the railing and Barton wrapping his arms around the young woman, asking if she wanted to come back over the rail.
In at most shock, the young woman went ahead and did as Barton told her to. If you or a loved one are in distress, please go ahead and call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or check out their website for confidential, free support 24/7.