On September 25, 2000, 19-year-old Kevin Hines attempted to take his own life by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge.
He plummeted over 220 feet at 75 miles per hour, crashing into the water and severely damaging three of his vertebrae, narrowly avoiding a complete spinal cord injury by mere millimeters. Remarkably, he survived this harrowing fall.
In the aftermath of his plunge, Kevin found himself fighting for his life.
His wet clothes weighed him down, dragging him under the chilly waters of San Francisco Bay. He struggled to break the surface, gasping for breath, clinging to his newfound desire to live.
Suddenly, he felt an unusual force from below lifting him above the water's surface, where he remained until the Coast Guard arrived.
It was only later that he discovered the mysterious presence keeping him afloat: a sea lion had been supporting his body until the rescue boat arrived, as eyewitnesses had observed.
This extraordinary survival story captured widespread media attention. Kevin Hines has since dedicated himself to being a motivational speaker and a fervent advocate for suicide prevention.
When mummy says you’ve been a very good little man because you used the big boy toilet all by yourself, even though you did still dribble some wee wee on your trousers.
Dads: Turn that bloody light off! It’s like Blackpool Illuminations in here. Do you think I’m made of money?
Dads at Christmas: I don’t think 96 strings of lights on the outside of the house is enough, love. Just popping to B&Q for another 47 and a 12ft illuminated reindeer.
“I really wish I could have some chocolate and get that weird taste in my mouth that you get when you drink orange juice not long after you’ve brushed your teeth.”
After Eight: We got you, babe.