Suicide attempts on Sydney Harbour Bridge 1932-9

Date of attempt
Format CCYY-MM-DD; e.g. 1933-01-31
1. Lewis/William
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • First suicide
  • hurled himself to death on Sunday afternoon. No external injuries, picked up by a launch immediately after his fall, attempts were made to restore animation.
  • Tattooed on the right forearm were a pair of hands clasped over a heart. Clean shaven, at one time his nose had been broken.
  • 49 years old of Paddington, Imperial Service pensioner, no relatives in Sydney. The Repatriation Department will defray the funeral expenses.
  • about 3.15 pm a number of passers-by saw a man climb on to the hand-rail of the footway and sit astride the top - took no notice; thought he was working on the bridge.
  • stopped for a few moments holding to the heavy top rail with both hands, his feet swinging freely. He then le himself fall outwards, released his hands and vanished, struck the water broad of his back
  • 5 ft 3.5 in in height, black hair, bluish grey eyes; dressed in a dark grey tweed suit
  • a passing launch picked up the body, the man having been killed by the terrific impact
  • the police launch then came alongside from the water police depot nearby
  • police officers subjected the body to artificial resuscitation
  • doctors of the opinion that he died of heart failure before striking the water - all his ribs were fractured and his skull broken
  • a returned soldier who was recently discharged from the Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick
  • The City Coroner (Mr E A May) found the deceased threw himself from the bridge while temporarily mentally deranged owing to war injuries.
Sources:
  • The Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, 26 April 1932, p. 12
  • Singleton Argus, 25 April 1932, p 2
  • The Maitland Daily Mercury, 26 April 1932, p 1
  • Kalgoorlie Miner, 27 April 1932, p. 5
  • Singleton Argus, 4 May 1932, p. 2
2. Unidentified
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • At about 6.15 pm Jumped from the footway of the Harbour Bridge into the water, leaped from the same spot as Lewis who suicided the day before
  • The Water Police were immediately notified and a launch hastily dispatched to the scene.
  • The locality was searched for several hours with the aid of searchlights but the body of the man was not recovered.
  • Climbing over the railings - he stepped up to the railing and stripped off his pullover, said to a woman who was walking near him "Here take this. I won't have any use for it now"
  • She took it mechanically and then as she saw him climb the railing screamed in horror
Sources:
  • Goulburn Evening Penny Post 26 April 1932, p. 3
  • The Maitland Daily Mercury, 26 April 1932, p. 2
3. Anderson/Robert
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • young man aged 32/33
  • jumped from footway rail
  • after turning over and over in the air, he struck the water with his back and although his spine was injured managed to swim feebly until rescued by a launch
  • now in Sydney Hospital
  • Doctors fear his spine is broke.
  • Action has not been accounted for
  • a clerk employed by the Railway Commissioners who resides at Lakemba, Sydney
  • Police have not yet ascertained definitely whether it was accidental or attempt to commit suicide
  • Wife is at present staying with relatives at Parkes
Sources:
  • The Albany Advertiser, 30 May 1932, p. 1
4. Thompson/Fred
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • aged about 55
  • Jumped from the middle of the bridge
  • When picked up he was still alive, but he had terrible injuries and died before reaching hospital.
  • This makes the third (sic) attempt to commit suicide since the bridge was opened but one of the three still lives.
Sources:
  • The Telegraph (Brisbane), 11 June 1932, p. 2
  • The Longreach Leader, 11 June 1932, p. 12
  • The Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, 11 June 1932, p. 10
5. Elks/Alberta Joyce
Female
Outcome:
Died
  • aged 24
  • also known as Elma
  • threw herself off bridge and died several hours later from shock and immersion
  • she told police she was depressed and tired of life
  • she left a husband and two children, a baby eight weeks, and the other four years
  • Husband gave evidence at inquest that she had previously attempt to commit suicide.
  • Five days before her death she had returned from an institution where she had been treated
  • City Coroner found that the woman had committed suicide while temporarily insane
  • third fatal jump from the bridge
Sources:
  • Queensland Times, 25 June 1932, p. 8
  • Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 2 July 1932, p. 8
6. Jenkins/Gabriel
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • aged 48 years, a commercial traveller
  • found floating near No 4 wharf Circular Quay
  • body recovered by Water Police
  • an overcoat owned by Jenkins and a letter stating he was suffering heart and nerve trouble were found on sidewalk of bridge on July 15
  • his name was called at Central Police Court on July 18 to answer a charge of fraudulent omission in a summons, When he failed to appear the prosecutor said he was not satisfied that Jenkins was dead
  • Magistrate issued a warrant for his arrest
Sources:
  • The Sydney Morning Herald, 27 July 1932, p. 11
7. Chandler/William
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • middle aged man
  • fell from bridge and struck the water with a loud report midst a huge column of spray
  • his clothes were stripped by the impact and he sustained terrible injuries
  • died shortly after admission to hospital
  • left a note stating he had been very depressed
Sources:
  • Geraldton Guardian and Express, 23 July 1932, p. 3
  • The Northern Champion, 23 July 1932, p. 4
8. Bray/William
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • William Bray, 43, a native of England, threw himself from the centre of the decking of the Harbour Bridge. Artificial respiration failed to restore his life.
  • of no fixed abode
  • Bray left a note describing himself as without a friend in Australia.
  • At Coroner's Court a note indicating as a result of inability to obtain employment he preferred to do away with himself rather than starve
  • note says he had been working in the railways until his foot had been injured at Albury in 1929
  • He had been paid 500 pounds compensation but it was all gone
  • He was the fifth to commit suicide from the Bridge
Sources:
  • The Evening News (Rockhampton), 4 August 1932 p. 1
  • The Canberra Times, 24 August 1932, p. 4
9. Connolly/William
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • aged 60 years
  • climbed railing on western side of bridge and jumped 180 feet into the water
  • struck the water feet first and was rescued by a member of the ferry company's staff with a boat hook
  • among the papers found in his pocket was a military discharge in his name
  • neck and spine were injured and died an hour after being admitted to hospital
Sources:
  • Western Argus, 27 September 1932, p. 27
10. Williams/George or Lehane/William
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • shattered body found below the bridge on morning of 24 September 1932 was identified as that of George Williams (57)
  • At inquest - Williams a married man, came from Papakura, near Auckland
  • on morning of suicide, William Lehane a retired sugarcane worker residing at Surry Hills was last seen walking towards the city from his lodgings.
  • He had been in ill-health and told relatives if he wanted to commit suicide he would jump from the bridge on to the concrete below and make a proper job of it.
  • Nothing has been seen or heard of Lehane since
  • Lehane was in the habit of taken chlorodine medicinally
  • in the pocket of the coat found on the bridge after the fateful leap was a bottle of chlorodine.
  • Williams' widow in NZ could not reconcile the description of the dead man with that of her husband
  • Lehane who was unmarried had a considerable amount of man in the Commonwealth Bank - relatives considering the question of the administration of his estate.
  • The question has arisen as to whether there has been a mistake in identification
Sources:
  • Western Argus, 24 October 1933, p. 18
11. Unidentified
Male
Outcome:
Prevented
  • 18 year old boy
  • had been unemployed for some time but recently secured work
  • a man walking across the bridge from the city end noticed the youth climb over the rail
  • overpowered him after a struggle and handed him to the North Sydney police who took the lad to the reception home
Sources:
  • Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 27 September 1932, p. 6
12. Unnamed
Female
Outcome:
Prevented
  • hiring a taxicab at Darlinghurst to go to North Sydney at 1 am a woman asked the driver to stop on the bridge
  • she walked to the railing near the tramline and started to climb over
  • the taxi driver jumped from the cab and seized her
  • "Let me go. I want to jump over. I am going to join my little girl."
  • She was held until the arrival of a constable who took her to the police station
Sources:
  • The Canberra Times, 8 October 1932, p. 1
13. Unidentified
Female
Outcome:
Prevented
  • young woman with a 10 months old baby was stopped last night in an attempt to throw herself and child from the bridge
  • the woman told the police she was greatly worried and decided to end her life
Sources:
  • The Dubbo Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, 11 October 1932
14. Lee/Edith
Female
Outcome:
Died
  • 33 years old, of Brighton-le-Sands
  • fell into the water on east of the bridge, struck the water a short distance from police patrol launch
  • was alive when taken on board but died as they transported her to the shore
  • she had left her home with her husband and seven months' old baby to go shopping
  • she gave her baby to her husband while she went into the shop but he did not see her again
  • he searched for her for several hours and learnt she had gone to the bridge
  • she had been in ill-health for some time
Sources:
  • The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, 17 October 1932, p. 6
15. Couch/Jessie
Female
Outcome:
Died
  • Falling 165 feet  from Sydney Harbour Bridge, Jessie Couch (23 years old) of Ashfield was dead when picked up by a police launch.
  • She had been suffering nervous trouble.
  • This makes the tenth fatality from the Bridge.
Sources:
  • Bundabergy Daily News and Mail, 21 October 1932, p. 5
16. Stannard/Walter
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • middle-aged man
  • jumped from southern end of the east side of the bridge
  • body almost immediately recovered by water police and taken to Sydney Hospital where a statement of death was made
  • in his pocket was a ticket which showed he was a member of the Unemployed Union #71
  • also a card with an inscription "The right to live"
  • ribs and spine were broken
  • in boat shed at Water Police depot they tried to restore animation until the arrival of the central ambulance
  • 13th crash from the bridge since the official opening - 11 killed
Sources:
  • The West Australian, 31 October 1932, p. 9
  • Bundaberg Daily News and Mail, 31 October 1932, p. 6
17. Unidentified
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • old man, about 60 years old
  • one-eyed
  • killed when he jumped off the bridge into the water
  • struck the water face downwards
  • coat and trousers had been ripped off and every one of his ribs had been smashed
  • picked up by the crew of the Lane Cove ferry, Lady Scoot
  • 14th person to have fallen from the bridge and its 12th victim
Sources:
  • Wagga Wagga Express, 26 November 1932, p. 13
18. Gallen/Augustus
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • aged 50
  • climbed on parapet near the middle of the bridge and hurled himself into the water
  • body stripped of most of its clothing by terrific impact was picked up by a launch
  • Gallen had been worried by unemployment for some time
  • He had a bad war wound in the hip
  • 15th crash from the bridge. Only two - a man and a girl - have survived
Sources:
  • Goulburn Evening Penny Post, 6 December 1932, p. 3
19. Morell/Anne
Female
Outcome:
Died
  • aged 38, of Edinburgh Road, Willoughby
  • jumped from the bridge and night and recovered by police in the morning
  • she had been in bad health for some time
  • second bridge victim in less than 24 hours
Sources:
  • Goulburn Evening Penny Post, 7 December 1932, p. 3
20. Russell, Archin
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • shortly after 9 am a man jumped from railings on the city side of the southern pylon and crashed to death 160 feet below on Hickson Road
  • 17th leap from bridge and 15th death
  • from Randwick
  • Witness saw a man sitting on the railing but before he could reach him he leaped
  • Practically every bone in the man's body was broken and the corpse was the most shattered the ambulance men had seen
Sources:
  • The Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, 12 December 1932, p. 7
21. Gair/Norman
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • 28 years old
  • fell from bridge
  • fourth person to be killed in less than a week
  • 16th since the opening of the bridge
  • left a note saying he intended to jump from the bridge
  • workman from a dredge rowed to Gair as he fell but life was extinct when he was picked up
Sources:
  • The Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, 15 December 1932, p. 7
22. Diamond/Charles
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • described as unknown man
  • witnessed his jump from the launch Protector who went to the spot and picked up the dead man
  • a note hinting he might be found dead  bore the name Charles Diamond born in England 1893 no relations in Australia
  • only a few pence found in his pocket
  • 19th suicide from bridge - another paper 17th suicide
Sources:
  • The Canberra Times, 16 December 1932, p. 4
  • The Longreach Leader, 17 December 1932, p. 12
23. Unidentified
Female
Outcome:
Died
  • at night a woman hurled herself over the railing into the water
  • police found her handbag and hat on the footway
  • body not yet recovered
  • an elderly woman who wrenched herself from the grasp of a young man who attempted to save her
  • she hung for half a minute suspended over the rail while the young man firmly grasped her dress - she forced him to release her
Sources:
  • The Northern Champion, 7 January 1933, p. 4
  • The Evening News, 7 January 1933, p. 7
24. Lock/Horace
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • 22nd victim of bridge
  • aged 33, insurance agent of Heritage St West Ryde
  • while walking along the pedestrian section of the southern approach Edward Galvin of North Sydney discovered a pair of crutches and a wallet
  • at about same time a few men fishing nearby heard what appeared to be a man falling into the water
  • Police located a body floating close to McMahon's Point
  • According to police, Lock who had a leg amputated about two years ago was depressed
  • on the body was found a letter in which Lock intimated he intended to take his life
  • 3 weeks previously Lock told police he had been assaulted and robbed of 18 pound in his backyard. Police could find no trace of the alleged robber,
Sources:
  • Singleton Argus, 16 January 1933, p. 2
  • The Evening News, 16 January 1933, p. 1
25. Daley/George
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • body recovered near Garden Island shortly before dusk
  • left home on Wednesday night and has not been seen since. He leaves behind two children.
  • Two persons reported to the North Sydney police late that night that they had seen the body of a man hurtling through the air from the footway of the Harbour Bridge and striking the water
  • also witnessed by a third man
Sources:
  • The Canberra Times, 28 January 1933, p. 2
26. Heskett/William
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • one legged man jumped the bridge and almost hurtled into a police launch which was travelling up the harbour at the time
  • address of L'avenue Newtown
  • he was somersaulting in the air and police dragged him on board the craft  as soon as he reappeared on the surface of the water
  • he was then alive but incapable of speech. He died on the way to hospital
  • shortly after the victim's leap a pair of crutches whizzed through the air to the water
  • these had been thrown by a pedestrian who had witness the jump. He saw the police launch recovering the body - they picked up the crutches
  • victim was well dressed and his left leg amputated below the knee
Sources:
  • The Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, 30 January 1933, p. 5
27. Hastings/William
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • aged 42
  • threw himself over the bridge and although promptly picked up by police patrol launch he was dead
Sources:
  • Northern Standard, 31 January 1933, p. 7
28. Richardson/John
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • 44 years old, of Bankstown
  • City Coroner expressed the view that the deceased became despondent when he lost all the money which he had invested in a poultry farm
Sources:
  • Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 21 February 1933, p. 5
29. Unknown
Male
Outcome:
Prevented
  • a youth aged 18 years was prevented from throwing himself from the bridge
  • Kenneth Weekes, son of a city hotel-keeper, having missed his train, was walking over the bridge from North Sydney when he met a youth who had thrown most of his clothing in a pile on the footway and was dressed only in his trousers
  • the lad ran to the railings as soon as he saw Weekes and tried to climb over
  • Weekes grabbed him by the wrist and the boy hung suspended.
  • Weekes called for help and another man ran to assistance and dragged the youth back to the footway
  • after a great struggle the boy was removed to a reception home at Darlinghurst
  • The youth said he had been down-trodden all his life, and has had trouble at home
Sources:
  • The West Australian, 27 February 1933, p. 8
  • Bundaberg Daily News and Mail, 27 February 1933, p. 6
30. Unknown
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • a man aged about 50 years jumped from the bridge this morning and was killed instantly
  • few saw the man leave the western footway, but the attention of hundreds of ferry passengers and persons about the waterside was attracted by great column of spray that shot up when the man hit the water
  • a ferry steamer stopped to recover the body, but the police launch reached it before the ferry could manoeuvre into position
Sources:
  • The Mercury, 18 March 1933, p. 9
31. Unidentified
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • early in the morning
  • a man jumped from the footway on the southern side and fell to the grass plot, 150 ft below
  • the body was shockingly injured
Sources:
  • The Dubbor Liberal and Macquarie Advocate, 25 March 1933, p. 1
32. Thomas/Ambrose
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • 33 or 38 years old, commercial traveller
  • left Nowra on May 16 announcing his intention of going over "the first big drop" he came to as he didn't want to get the sack
  • he drove his car to Sydney, left it near the bridge and jumped over
  • worked for Atlantic Oil Company - his books were in order
  • A telegram had been sent to Nowra asking him to report on Saturday May 13
  • Before he left he told the proprietor that he was going to Sydney to get the sake but he would not get them as he was going over the first drop he came to.
  • Apparently he thought he was in trouble and intended to take his life
Sources:
  • The Canberra Times, 31 May 1933, p. 4
  • Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 31 May 1933, p. 8
33. Alonison
Female
Outcome:
Died
  • 20 years old of Hughes St, Potts Point
  • jumped from the centre of the bridge into the sea
  • body recovered several hours later
  • a note in which the girl stated that she was tired of life and intended to do away with herself was found on the bridge
Sources:
  • The Week, 24 May 1933, p. 23
34. Clements/Eric
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • Aged 19, arrived from Gundagai the previous day with a friend, James Murphy
  • both attended a picture theatre and when the programme was half over Clements suddenly left the theatre, after giving his friend 7 pound saying "Put this in your pocket"
  • less than an hour afterwards his body was found in the harbour near the bridge
  • Coroner returned verdict of suicide. Witness said Clements' mother was killed in an air raid and his father was killed at the war
  • police stated that Clements owed the Immigration Department 7 pound
Sources:
  • The Brisbane Courier, 5 August 1933, p. 19
  • Northern Standard, 8 August 1933, p. 4
35. Cummins/Marjorie
Female
Outcome:
Died
  • 20 years old
  • Bellevue Hill
  • struck water with such force after somersaulting as she fell that her shoes were torn from her feet
  • employed as a bookkeeper, left for work at 8.30 am, an hour later was seen to climb the railings on the bridge footpath
  • 25th suicide since its opening
Sources:
  • The Evening News, 8 August 1933, p. 7
36. Unidentified
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • third SHB suicide within a week
  • at 4.20 pm a man jumped from centre of the bridge
  • he was dead when taken from the water
  • aged about 30 years
  • all three suicides in daylight
  • makes 28th attempt since the bridge was opened, 26 of which proved fatal
Sources:
  • The Charleville Times, 11 August 1933, p. 7
  • The Morning Builletin, 11 August 1933, p. 7
37. Unidentified
Female
Outcome:
Died
  • elderly woman was killed she fell 170 ft from deck to the water
  • both terribly injured - same time as elderly man
  • 28 have now committed suicide from the bridge
Sources:
  • Maryborough Chronicle, 31 August 1933, p. 6
38. Unidentified
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • elderly man was killed when he fell 100 ft to the ground and southern end of the bridge (elderly woman fell 170 ft from deck to the water
  • both terribly injured
  • 28 have now committed suicide from the bridge
Sources:
  • Maryborough Chronicle, 31 August 1933, p. 6
39. Unidentified
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • an elderly man jumped over the footway rail and crashed into the ground at Dawes Point, 100 feet below.
  • Every bone in his body was smashed
  • The man's clothing had a tag with the name J. F. Holle. A singlet was stamped with A. Green and a white handkerchief had the letter G or J embroided in the corner
  • 27th suicide since opening
Sources:
  • Singleton Argus, 30 August 1933, p. 2
40. Dymock/Millicent
Female
Outcome:
Died
  • threw herself over the railings in the morning
  • a bridge employee seized her as she was about to jump, but could not hold her
  • killed instantly
  • 45 years old, a widow of Ashfield
  • one of two women who suicided on that day
  •  
Sources:
  • The Courier Mail, 7 September 1933, p. 14
41. Davis/Susan
Female
Outcome:
Died
  • 65 years old jumped from Harbour Bridge
  • charged with shoplifting and about to go to trial at Central Court (failed to turn up) Prosecutor said the defendant who jumped the bridge the previous day
  • charged with stealing stockings and a d'oyley valued at 7/5
Sources:
  • The Canberra Times, 8 September 1933, p. 1
42. Brady/Fred
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • around 19/9/33 [*** check ***]
  • 55 years of age
  • drank methylated spirits and became intoxicated
  • unemployed
  • born in England taken to New Zealand and Victoria with his mother
  • said he intended to jump from harbour bridge
  • asked his friend Amos Wilkins, florist, if he would jump with him
  • Brady jumped from the bridge 200 feet to a garden reserve
  • Wilkins though the man was joking and said no
Sources:
  • Northern Star, 20 September 1933, p. 5
  • The Herald, 19 September 1933, p. 5
43. Cocks/John
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • 23 year old law student, a brilliant member of the University Law School
  • was articled as a clerk to a firm of city solicitors. He was in third year of Law School
  • member of University debating team
  • had recently returned from a long vacation taken for health reasons
  • City Coroner unable to understand why he ended his life by jumping bridge
  • evidence he had been suffering a nervous complaint
  • his books at the office were stated to be in order
Sources:
  • Newcastle Morning Herad and Miners' Advocate, 11 October 1933, p. 8
  • The Mercury, 4 October 1933, p. 9
44. Moye/Lucina
Female
Outcome:
Died
  • 65 years old of Wagga
  • body found in Sydney Harbour after she had fallen from the bridge
  • body identified by Mrs Moye's son and son in law, neither of whom was aware that she was in Sydney until her husband wrote them from Wagga stating she had disappeared
  • it is believed she had been in poor health
  • Men who were walking across the bridge saw her climb to the rail but she jumped over before they could reach her
  • The Harbour Bridge has now been the scene of 33 deaths
Sources:
  • Kalgoorlie Miner, 27 October 1933, p. 4
  • The Canberra Times, 26 October 1933, p. 4
45. Stunt/Jesse
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • about noon, Jesse Stunt (49) lift driver of Greens Road, Paddington jumped from the Harbour Bridge and was killed
  • apparently he was a returned soldier, as the police found in his pocket a soldier's pass with the name H. Stunt
  • 34th Bridge suicide
Sources:
  • The West Australian, 7 November 1933, p. 13
  • The Canberra Times, 7 November 1933, p. 1
46. Not named
Male
Outcome:
Prevented
  • two pedestrians crossing the harbour bridge at night saw a man take off his coat and hat, clamber up on the railings, lean forward and gaze down at the water
  • they rushed forward and grabbed the man and pulled him back to safety
  • he was taken to the Reception House where he said he had been worried over business - "It's all right now. I'm glad they stopped me. I shouldn't have tried it."
  • to date nearly 40 persons have thrown themselves from the bridge
Sources:
  • Wellington Times, 9 November 1933, p. 1
47. Not named
Female
Outcome:
Survived
  • around 9 November 1933 [*** check ***]
  • a girl threw herself over
  • she was picked up immediately by a launch and helped herself on board
  • she was taken to hospital, where she is recovering from shock; doctors say this is the only result of her adventure
  • apparently she hit the water feet first
  • third person to jump from the bridge and to come out of it alive
Sources:
  • Wellington Times, 9 November 1933, p. 1
48. Unidentified
Female
Outcome:
Died
  • a woman aged between 25 and 30 years old
  • fell from bridge after struggling with a man who grabbed her as she was astride the rail
  • an upper garment tore in his grasp, he clutched her head but the beret she was wearing came away in his hands
  • she left a handbag, a pair of shoes on the decking
  • police looking for the body
Sources:
  • Northern Star, 13 November 1933, p. 7
49. Angell/Brian
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • aged 35
  • jumped from the bridge early in the afternoon.
  • He was dead when picked up by a passing launch
  • had come from London, and was described as a journalist who had been unemployed for some time.
  • reputed to be a nephew of the late Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and was a scholar of considerable attainments.
  • Angell went to India, where he was manager of tea plantations and subsequently headmaster of a high school
Sources:
  • The West Australian
  • Kalgoorlie Miner, 23 November 1933, p. 4
50. Hickey/Richard
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • 46 years old
  • an A.B. on HMAS Penguin
  • believed to be the man who fell from Bridge on 22 November 1933
Sources:
  • The Advertiser (Adelaide), 30 November 1933, p. 17
51. Unidentified
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • elderly man
  • fell from Bridge in the morning
  • Water Police recovered the body
  • victim's trousers and shirt were ripped by the terrific impact when he struck the water
Sources:
  • The Corowa Free Press, 24 November 1933, p. 2
52. Unidentified
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • two girls walking across the bridge joking spoke of jumping over when they saw a man climb to the top rail and then leap into the water
  • "Just wait till we get to the middle and I'll oblige" Miss Watson said jokingly. "Perhaps this man will do so instead" then he leapt over
  • the girls ran to the toll bar. The constable on duty informed the water police whose search was unsuccessful.
  • the man appeared to be well-dressed, young and of small build
  • since the Government decided to erect an anti-suicide fence last November, five men have jumped from the bridge.
  • Death toll now 41
  • work has commenced on the safety fence, but some time must elapse before it is completed
Sources:
  • The Evening News, 6 January 1934, p. 5
53. Anonymous
Male
Outcome:
Prevented
  • Man twice restrained
  • An attempt is alleged to have been made by a man to climb over the railing. Restrained by two men, he later made another attempt, but was held by the same men with the aid of a policeman. Two men were crossing the bridge at 9 pm when a man, muttering to himself, suddenly began to scale the railings. He was pulled down, and telling his rescuers he was all right he began to walk across.
  • Suddenly he made another dash for the rail, but was again overpowered after a fierce struggle, in which Constable McMahon assisted. He was taken to the Reception House.
Sources:
  • The Toowoomba Chronicle and Darling Downs Gazette, 8 January 1934, p. 10
54. Caves/John
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • An unemployed commercial traveller of Lochinvar, NSW
Sources:
  • The West Australian, 16 Jan 1934, p. 9
55. Not named
Male
Outcome:
Prevented
  • three boys walking across bridge saw a man attempt to clamber over the wire netting safety fence
  • they rushed forward and despite his struggles, pulled the man to the pathway, held him until police arrived
  • man struggled violently as he was taken to the Reception House
Sources:
  • Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 26 February 1934, p. 10
56. Hayden/Clifford
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • 23 years old of Howard St, Randwick
  • killed instantly when he fell head first from the parapet of southern approach to the bridge to the concrete roadway of Argyle Cut, 60 ft below.
  • two boys witnessed the fall notified police and ambulance
  • the place from which he fell is a considerable distance from the main structure of the bridge and is beyond the range of the safety fence
  • first death caused through a fall from the bridge since January when the bridge was erected
Sources:
  • The Sydney Morning Herald, 26 May 1934, p. 19
57. Anonymous
Male
Outcome:
Prevented
  • A man climbed on to the protecting fence, but a piece of wire caught in his sleeve and this held him until another man ran along and pulled him back.
  • The man was taken to the Reception House.
Sources:
  • The Canberra Times, 3 Jan 1935, p. 3
58. Byrne/John
Male
Outcome:
Survived
  • of Campsie
  • first man to fall from the bridge since the safety fence was erected and the sixth person to fall from the bridge and live
  • his trousers had been ripped off his body and many bruises were apparent
  • The police found him floating on his back, using a boat hook pulled him from the harbour a few minutes later, he protested against their applying respiration methods and said he was all right
  • He was quickly removed to hospital where he was admitted in a serious condition
  • four other people have fallen (and lived) since the completion of the bridge.
  • A workman (Kelly) who fell while it was under construction was on the job again a few weeks later 
Sources:
  • Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate, 8 August 1935, p. 12
59. Anonymous
Male
Outcome:
Prevented
  • A man attempted to hurl himself into the water.
  • A seaman of HMAS Canberra grabbed him by the legs and pulled him back after he had been kicked and punched. To the police the man did not give any reason for his actions, beyond muttering a few words. He was later taken to the Reception House.
Sources:
  • The Inverell Times, 30 September 1938, p. 1
60. Gillan/James
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • 37 years old
  • no fixed address
  • 52nd death since bridge opened seven years ago
Sources:
  • The Canberra Times, 6 May 1939, p. 3
61. Unidentified
Male
Outcome:
Prevented
  • A man telephoned a Sydney newspaper announcing he intended to jump over the Harbour Bridge in a few minutes  "It will be a bit of news for you tomorrow"
  • Police rushed to the scene, where a man was seen looking into the water
  • When approached he remarked, "Leave me along. I've lost my job and I 'm going to end it all. I'm sick of life."
  • He was removed to the Reception House
Sources:
  • The Manning River Times, 2 August 1939, p. 3
62. Unidentified
Male
Outcome:
Died
  • in the evening Les Baker of Macksville was travelling across the bridge in a tram when he saw a man jump from the Bridge
  • on reaching the north side he telephoned police
  • the body of a man was found in the harbour the next morning
Sources:
  • Nambucca and Bellinger News, 11 August 1939, p. 5