News about Kevin Hines

Kevin Briggs spent 23 years at the California Highway Patrol, 17 of those are patrolling the Golden Gate Bridge - the number one suicide spot in the world. During his tenure, he talked many people back over the edge and still remembers the ones he couldn't help. Now he spends his time educating others on how to prevent suicide and manage crises.

Since construction of the lifesaving barrier was completed on January 1 2024, there have only been three confirmed suicides - compared with the estimated 15 to 20 which likely would have been recorded by this point in the year.

San Francisco has completed the installation of two stainless steel mesh nets on both sides of the Golden Gate Bridge as part of a movement to discourage suicides from occurring. More than a decade ago, city officials approved the proposal. However, persistent delays delayed the completion of the suicide prevention barriers from being completed until now. Officials revealed on Wednesday that the 20-foot-wide neting had been installed on both ends of the 1.7-mile bridge as a way to discourage jumping. There have been nearly 2,000 deaths since the bridge was constructed in 1937.

When the voices in his head told Kevin Hines to 'jump' from San Francisco's Golden Gate Bridge, he was in a state of confusion and hopelessness. On September 25, 2000, the then-19-year-old paced the walkway for almost 40 minutes before he leaped over the four-foot rail and plummeted 25-stories into the frigid waters. The drop lasted just four seconds. Hines fractured his spinal vertebrae and broke an ankle, but he miraculously recovered. He is one of only 36 people to do so.