By Lookout Staff

July 6, 2023 -- For the third time since March of last year, police thwarted a suicide attempt Wednesday morning in the area around Palisades Park.

At around 9:30 a.m. Santa Monica police and firefighters responded to the 900 block of Palisades Park to coordinate the rescue of a man along the edge of the bluff, police officials said.

"Firefighters set up a rope rescue system for firefighters and police officers working near the edge who were communicating with the individual," said Lt. Erika Aklufi, the Police Department spokesperson.

"Teams of Paramedics stood by in the event medical care was needed," Aklufi said. "After 4 hours, Police Officers and Firefighters were able to get close enough to physically pull the man from the edge and to safety."

A Department of Mental Health clinician evaluated the man before he was transported to Exodus Recovery for further evaluation, police said.

The incident took place after police thwarted two suicide attempts last year on the nearby bridge above Pacific Coast Highway.

The first incident took place in March when a man armed with a kitchen knife abandoned his car on the coastal highway and climbed the bluffs onto the bridge.

After the man called dispatch and said he was suicidal, SMPD's Crisis Negotiation Team arrived at the scene and convinced him to toss away the knife, police said.

The other thwarted attempt took place in September when a distraught man threatened to jump off the bridge. He was removed safely and transported to a local hospital.

Santa Monica public spaces have been the site of multiple suicides and suicide attempts over the past five years.

The last suicide took place in May of last year when a man jumped to his death from a freeway overpass ("Man Leaps from Freeway Overpass Marking 3rd Public Suicide This Year," May 13, 2021).

It marked the third public suicide of the year (the other two took place at Santa Monica Place) and the 16th public suicide in the city since February 2018.

If you or a member of your family is struggling with thoughts of suicide, help can be had by calling (800) 854-7771 or by texting LA to 741741.

Additional resources from the LA County Department of Mental Health are available at dmh.lacounty.gov.