Heroes of the week: Crew of the Fishing Boat "Sweet Jane" Rescues Man in Icy River

 This week's heroes are two unnamed fishermen who pulled a man from the icy waters of a New Hampshire/Maine river after a suicide attempt. 

(Photo:   Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, a lift bridge spanning the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine, carrying traffic of U.S. Route 1 Bypass. This is the replacement bridge, which opened in March 2018. View from the New Hampshire side. Credit: Wikipedia)

Man rescued after jumping from NH/ME Sarah Long Bridge

Portsmouth Herald. Ian Lenahan, October 27, 2025

PORTSMOUTH — An Eliot, Maine, man was pulled from the frigid Piscataqua River alive on Oct. 27 after jumping from the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge, according to authorities.

The Sarah Mildred Long Bridge is a lift bridge spanning the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and Kittery, Maine, carrying traffic of U.S. Route 1 Bypass.

The man was rescued shortly after 10 a.m. by the lobster boat Sweet Jane on the New Hampshire side of the span, according to Kittery police Lt. John Desjardins, the department’s interim chief. The vessel is owned and operated by two brothers from Eliot, Maine.   

“He rode his bicycle from Eliot up on the bridge and jumped,” Desjardins said.

(Photo: The new Sarah Mildred Long Bridge across the Piscataqua River between Portsmouth, N.H., and Kittery, Maine, replaces an existing span built in 1940. Credit: American Institute of Steel Construction) 

Vehicles go over the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge connecting Portsmouth and Kittery via the Route 1 Bypass July 8, 2025. The lobster boat brought the man to the Atlantic Marine Corporation terminal at the Market Street pier. The Portsmouth Fire Department transported the man to Portsmouth Regional Hospital for assessment.

The man’s family was on scene, according to Desjardins.

Port leader describes rescue scene Richard Hartley, acting director of the New Hampshire Port Authority, was told by staff the fishing boat was at the secure pier unauthorized Monday morning.

It quickly became clear that the two brothers aboard the Sweet Jane were seeking assistance in a dire situation.

Hartley got on the boat, held the hand of the man who had jumped and waited for emergency responders to arrive at the terminal. Hartley noticed a woman on the scene, who identified herself as the man’s mother, then drove her to Portsmouth Regional Hospital after her son was transported. Hartley, a retired Coast Guard veteran, said he guided the woman through breathing exercises and spoke with her at length.

The port leader estimated the Sweet Jane lobstermen reached the man in the water within 90 seconds of impact from his jump.

“I’m just so glad those guys were there,” Hartley said of the fishermen.

*************************************

RESOURCES FOR PEOPLE IN CRISIS

The National Alliance on Mental Illness - New Hampshire offers the following resources to those in distress:

1. NH Rapid Response Access Point – Call/Text 1-833-710-6477 – If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis, you can call and speak to trained and caring clinical staff. You’ll be served by compassionate providers from mental health centers in your community who can help you access vital resources in an emergency.
2. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988 for 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals. (Chat option is also available at 988lifeline.org.)

The Maine chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Health offers resources for anyone, of any age, who is experiencing any level of distress.

1. Call 9-8-8 to access the Suicide and Crisis Hotline, 24 hours a day. The hotline offers help through phone calls, texts, and online chats. The Maine Crisis Hotline can be reached at 1-888-568-1112.
2. The Maine Intentional Warm Line, for anyone not experiencing an immediate mental health crisis but still needs support, can be reached at 1-866-771-9276.
3. A Teen and Young Adult Helpline is available Mondays through Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. This service can be accessed by texting “Friend” to 62640, by calling 1-800-950-6264, or by using the “Chat With Us” function online at NAMI.org.