Aziz Berisha and Gjelal Mulaj had just stepped off their pass as security guards in Värnamo and were on their way home. But the journey home suddenly took an unexpected turn.
At half past three, on the night of Saturday, they see a young drunken man on the footbridge over the river Lagan. But instead of continuing to walk on the bridge, he deviates down a hill straight towards the cold, rushing water.
– I ask Aziz to stop the car and try to catch up, but I don’t have time and see how he falls, says Gjelal.
“He’s panicking”
While Aziz calls 112, Gjelal rushes towards the water. But it is dark – and when he reaches the edge, he can no longer see the man.
– I think I have to jump in. So I take off my equipment and just as I unbutton my vest, I see how he comes up from the water, he says.
The man is about a meter from the edge.
– I grab his fingers and pull him towards me. Once he grabs my hand he refuses to let go, I can tell he is panicking.
Gjelal urges the man to try to help with all the strength he has. And finally Gjelal manages to pull him out of the river.
– I don’t know where I got the strength from. He was both heavy and wet.
Sobered up at the police station
Afterwards, both Gjelal and Aziz have been praised for their quick and decisive action. The drunken man was driven to the police station.
– The patrols who were there that night said that it was great with him after he sobered up, says Aziz and continues:
– It feels great that we were able to save a life. We feel proud, we have worked quite a few years in this profession and want to help people in different situations.
Gjelal agrees. He also sees it as a bit of revenge against those who direct threats and hatred towards security guards.
– It’s kind of nice that some people see the effort we’re making. But we did this in our spare time, we were not law enforcement officers. Anyone would have done the same thing, he says.