Students

Aspiring Police Officer and Texas College Student Rescues Woman Who Tried to Jump Off a Bridge

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Blake Pryor, a Tarleton State University student who hopes to one day be a police officer, was on his way home from work when a "gut feeling" prompted him to pull over and help a citizen in need.

According to KTBC Fox 7, Pryor noticed a woman was on the edge of a bridge and appeared to have the intention of jumping off. Further confirming that the woman was distraught, Pryor noticed a bottle of alcohol as he approached her.

The Round Rock Police Department said they were in the process of responding to several 911 calls from passersby. Still, Pryor was there first and he felt as though he needed to act. Without any previous training, Pryor offered the woman a listening ear while he positioned himself between her and a 100-foot drop.

"I put my hand on her back and asked if we could talk about anything," Pryor told KTBC Fox 7. "I told her the decision she was thinking about was final and there were no second chances."

Curtis Cox, a Round Rock police officer, arrived on the scene knowing very little more than a woman was apparently contemplating suicide. When the woman saw the officers, she tried to make her leap, but Pryor was able to stop her.

"I just grabbed her and wrapped my arms around her and said it was going to be okay," Pryor said.

Cox said he initially thought Pryor at least knew the woman, but he said the story took an unexpected turn for him when he learned the 21-year-old Stephenville, Texas resident was a complete stranger.

"Personally when a stranger risks their life for someone else it is heroic. I don't think Mr. Pryor considers himself a hero, but I do," Cox told KTBC Fox 7.

The young college student is studying criminal justice and plans on pursuing a career as a law enforcement officer after graduation, though he already has the instincts of one. Pryor said he has been contacted by several local agencies who want him to choose their police training academy.

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