Wrestler saves woman dangling from bridge

CALGARY — British-Canadian professional wrestler Davey Boy Smith Jr. says he drew on his years of grappling and self-defence to help save the life of a woman dangling from a Calgary bridge.

In a post on his Facebook page, Smith Jr. said he was driving just west of the city’s downtown on Sunday when he saw someone hanging off a bridge.

“I stopped and jumped the barricade and tried talking (to her),” wrote Smith Jr., son of “the British Bulldog” wrestler Davey Boy Smith.

“She was crying and an emotional mess and threatening to jump if I got closer. With people on the ground waving her not to jump, I decided to grab a hold of her and not take any chances.”

Smith Jr., whose real name is Harry Smith, said the woman was starting to slide as he tried to pull her to safety.

“Luckily (from) my years of grappling and self-defence, I knew how to grab her hard and how to pull her up from hanging off and jumping,” he wrote. “I knew not to grab her clothing because she would have ripped through it.”

He said he managed to pull her up and held her until police arrived. Smith Jr. said he told her “you’re not going to move unless I want you to, I’m an expert grappler.

“We will get you help. Life is a precious thing and I’m here to help you,” he said he told her.

Police arrived and took her into custody, Smith Jr. said.