Oak Park Newspaper

April 16, 2011

Overnight Suicide Attempt Fails in Oak Park.
by Ed Vincent

Early this morning, at approximately 3 o'clock, a call came into the Oak Park Fire department requesting help for a person seen on the train tracks of the Eisenhower-290 expressway. The call did not originally tell where the location was for the person. Firefighters quickly went onto the expressway at the Oak Park Aveune location and Austin platforms. Power was cut to the third rails, but no one was found at either location.

When Oak Park Firefighters left their station (Station 3) at 900 South East Ave, in Oak Park, they requested more information on the location of the victim. Two previous areas had been searched and no person was found. Leaving their location they noticed people gathered at East Avenue and pointing down to the tracks.

The individual had jumped to end his life at the East Avenue bridge, but fortunately he landed in a muddy area of the train tracks and only broke his ankle.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) quickly arrived at the scene and firefighters evaluated and treated the young man at the location. He was removed from the area that he jumped into. Firefighters placed and secured him into a Stokes basket and raised by cables to the street above, where he was taken to Loyola University Hospital, at 2160 S. First Avenue in Maywood, IL.

The 20 something year old Mexican man had become depressed over a love affair with another Mexican. The individual attempted to take his life by leaping from the overpass bridge at East Avenue and Garfield, right near an Oak Park fire department station. When questioned by police the man speaking in broken English was found to have three separate id cards, each with a different name (Fernando, Eduardo, and another name...).

His extraction from the scene by firefighters was text book and executed perfectly by the teams. Thankfully the man is alive and well and hopefully his zest for life will return and flourish.

Oak Park is gay and Spanish friendly so please do not take your life in our town, seek help and speak with friends. This morning his friends were a spot of good luck and a meeting with the Oak Park firefighters.