Firemen prevent suicide in Cubao

A rescue team from the Quezon City fire department rescued a man who tried to jump off a steel tower, ending a three-hour suicide attempt drama along EDSA in Cubao yesterday.

Chief Inspector Oscar Villegas, Quezon City fire marshal, said Gerald Bong Apuwad, 30, climbed the 50-foot steel tower of the Makro Supermarket at 7:30 a.m. and attempted to commit suicide.The man had apparently quarreled with his wife and threatened to jump unless his wife talks to him.

A fire department rescue team rushed to the scene and tried to calm down the man who was described as "extremely depressed."

An hour later, a woman who identified herself as the wife, arrived on board a gray Honda Civic and convinced Apuwad to come down. She then handed firemen a cell phone for them to give to her husband.

Using a fire ladder, three firemen ascended to the tower and handed the cell phone to the husband.

While Apuwad was talking to his wife on the phone, Fire Officer 3 Donato de Los Trinos grabbed him and with the help of his two colleagues tied him up with a rope before lowering him down to safety.

"The man was secured and brought down to safety," Villegas told The STAR.

Apuwad was brought to the Quirino Memorial Medical Center then turned over to the Cubao police station.