Power of One

Chen Si spends his weekends searching into the eyes of those traveling the Nanjing Bridge spanning the Yangste River in Nanjing, China. He is searching for desperation in the eyes of those he meets, the kind of desperation and depression that would cause someone to fling themselves over the bridge railing and into the water below.

So far, Chen Si has saved 99 people from jumping to their deaths. Many times by simply spotting their desperation and talking with them, other times by grabbing onto their arms or legs as they cross over the railing and literally dragging them back to safety. The Nanjing Bridge is the longest road and railway bridge in the world and suicide is the leading cause of death for Chinese men between the ages of 15 and 34. Chen Si can only be in one spot on the bridge at any given time.

Not only does Chen Si take on the responsibility of saving lives, he also feels he must try and make life better for those he saves by offering hope.

"What should I do with the people I save? I don’t have that much money," he says. "When I save people, I don’t want to just cheat them into living another day."

"Give me some time," Chen Si says. "I’ll think of something."

Quotes by Chen Si taken from a story on NPR's Morning Edition