Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stopped a man from jumping off a bridge Friday, his office said.
The president’s motorcade was passing Istanbul’s Bosporus Bridge where a man seemed to be preparing to jump, the Associated Press reported. Video showed Erdogan’s bodyguards approaching the man and coaxing him back over the railing to safety, then escorting him to Erdogan’s car to speak with the president. Erdogan remained on a cellphone and did not leave his vehicle.
According to the AP, Erdogan’s office said the man was depressed due to family issues.
Agence France-Presse reported that police had been trying to talk the man down for nearly two hours when Erdogan arrived on his return from Friday prayers.
