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2025 jump events

updated: 08.31.25
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08.27.25: jumper, 1:16pm, male, hit rocks, died, body recovered
Zachary Ryan Severini, 27
thank you, jumpnews reporters:
08.27.25, Nicholas C., facebook, Jumper. 10 minutes ago. Body not found yet. later: Deceased. Hit rocks

08.27.25, Jim P., facebook, Jumper just went over. Northbound lane. Reports that he hit the rocks or the fenders. Bicycle in road. Multiple calls. He's been spotted on center of rock pile. Confirmed deceased.

08.27.25, Brandon B., facebook, From what I’ve gathered seems like somebody rode a bike up there. A comment said it looks like a kids bike, but not confirmed. Another guy said he watched somebody climb the fence. some are so determined. imagine riding a bike all that way and then vaulting over the fence.

08.27.25, anon, Young male rides bike to the top and jumped. Landed on rocks below.


08.27.25, Derrick H., Hillsborough, Abandoned bicycle found at peak of bridge, lane closures, heavy ems and law enforcement on bridge and in water. Currently searching the water under where the bike is.

any more info is welcome.
08.27.25, Hillsborough Sheriff, 0 BLOCK SKYWAY BRIDGE Event: ASSIST OTHER AGENCY @ 13:11 Time Cleared: 13:13 Report Number: 25909466, 0h02m
08.27.25, iontb/fb, Skyway Bridge: Expect delays northbound at the top of the bridge due to Fire Rescue and Law Enforcement activity.
 Zach Severini    Zach Severini   Zachary Ryan Severini

facebook

instagram

obituary

gofundme
08.28.25, Dawn, Oldsmar, FL, All I have to say is why didn't anyone stop to try to save this man. It's worth a try. If I saw it I would've stopped I don't care if I'm risking my own life. We need to help each other. If you never lost a loved one from suicide you don't know how horrible it is. It's absolutely the worst. I feel horrible for that family that lost their loved one to a choice.

08.29.25, anon, facebook, some news for you, due to the recent events on the skyway. there will be a road ranger stationed there, patrolling from south to north rest area of the skyway, 24/7

09.10.25, Anon, St Pete, Man I worked with Zack for almost 6 months and he was always the happiest and most funny guy to be around. Tragic man, really is.
facebook post,
   this incident produced a record outpouring of comments, debate, and hate.
08.27.25, Shawn H., How was he able get all the way to the top of the bridge on a bicycle with out getting stopped? That’s the better question later: EDIT: Some of yall seem to think it’s legal to walk or ride a bike on the bridge as you please, that’s %100 false and illegal. You cant walk on the shoulder of any stretch of 275. They also have cameras that are monitored 24/7 for this exact reason on the bridge, plus two FHP officers that are active 24/7. I was the DOT inspector for the suicide prevention fence for the entirety of the project. I spent 6 months on top of the bridge. Not one time did I ever see a person walk or ride over the bridge with out getting stopped. Someone failed to do their job today.
• that was my first thought when i saw the small bike.
• since the fence was installed, jumpers have faded to near zero for a few years now. my guess is that patrols were fewer and/or more relaxed. monitoring definitely failed on several levels.


• Cynthia U., Nobody thought a child riding a bike and climbing the fence was worth stopping and questioning??? Very sad😭😢

• Barbara H., he was doubly successful riding that bike all the way to the top without getting caught then jumping. That's a skill set not many would have.

• Lauren P., back when Bay News 9 had the live feeds from the cameras, a bridge alert came out, my colleague and I pulled up the live stream and we literally watched her get out mid span, runabout 10 feet and off she went. She survived.

• Heather C., The boy pedaled upward toward the clouds, trading handlebars for heaven’s gate. His last trick wasn’t a wheelie, but a swan dive—flesh against stone, bones scattering like spilled chalk. The sky swallowed his scream, leaving only the echo of spokes still spinning with no rider to claim them... ...followed by a wide spectrum of responses.

• Scott D., It takes a lot of thought to go all the way up the bridge like that, I had a troubled friend years ago that tried to walk up the bridge and jump, but he was stopped and got Baker acted and he said he would never try that again .. he died peacefully in his chair, watching Jeopardy like he should have. 😔

• Destry W., I was up there once before the fence, a Tampa female officer saved my life. My life is still hard, but i'm alive thanks to her.

• Shae A., I saw the gentleman get off the bike and start to climb the net as I was passing in sb lane. Last I saw in mirror was him going over the top of the net... so so sad I was really hoping I didn't see what it appears I did.

• Destini L., I remember when I was 7 fishing at the skyway fishing pier I caught a dead man His shirt got stuck on the hook I remember the dolphins helping the rescuers by pushing him up. I found out the next day he was a jumper. 🥹 I still remember what he looked like & the shirt he was wearing. later: I swear it really happened. I went to school the next day and got in trouble bc the teachers thought I was lying until my parents told them I was telling the truth. later: The main reason why I am scared to fish. u can tell the fish was eating his face.

08.29.25, Mary Q., I saw him riding up the bridge but never thought he was a jumper.

• Hunter M., my heart is shattered learning it was him. He was loved by so many people. He was the kindest person you would ever meet. He was a huge fan of music, he had some of the coolest vinyl records and was extremely passionate about showing them to you. He was really big into fitness, he put a lot of time and effort into his health. He is already missed by so many people all around the world. The world lost a really good person.

• Pam F., There are no news articles about this claim. Can't be verified. if you didn't see verification, then clearly it didn't happen.
• pay no attention to the many witnesses and photos. do continue depending on the media for what to think about everything all the time. they will always report the truth, says no one with at least two functional brain cells left that are dedicated to logic and reason.~

08.30.25, Rosemarie L., Please be kind and have compassion. This fine young man was full of life. His family and friends are hurting and trying to understand. Everyone quickly jumps to conclusions and tend to make heartless comments. Zach was someone’s son, brother, cousin, friend and all around good guy. It hits hard when you see the pain his family and friends are going through. No one truly knows what he was going through. We are all trying to comprehend it. Sadly people need to take a course in empathy and compassion.

• Mary M., This was a very special young man. Had his whole life ahead of him. We are beyond devastated. He was my son’s best friend and roommate. We are forever sorrowful that he made this tragic decision to end his young life. We are still navigating what and why he did this. Shattering lives around him that loved him. He had a great job, a home and people who loved him. Please if you read this, reach out to your loved ones and give them a hug and offer them any assistance they may need. My son is heartbroken as is the family and us. Constantly replaying last text messages or calls to see if we missed anything. Depression is a treatable disease and sometimes people who have great egos hide it. Zach Severini was a very special young man in great physical shape. But obviously he had demons within. We are forever sorry we couldn’t stop him from this tragic ending of his precious life. We all would have gladly dragged him from that bridge. Kicking and screaming all the way to keep him safe and with us. He never gave us that chance. 💔

• Ashley B., he was one of the strongest humans i knew, both mentally and physically. Its why this is so extremely unexpected for all of us right now. He was a huge advocate for taking care of yourself mentally and physically. My dawg was a BEAST, and right now im really wishing he wasnt. Can't say enough how badly I wish his legs gave out riding up there.

09.04.25, Friends of the Pelicans, Inc., So horribly sad that no one driving by stopped to try and prevent this.
• things happen fast up on the bridge. you're going 50mph+/- and see something odd, yet you are past it quickly, with really not much time to react. then what? pull over and back up? get out and run back? the man was clearly determined and by the time he got to where he stopped, he was probably up and over the fence in seconds. sadly, the surreal nature of the event would probably prevent even those willing to stop, to be too late to do anything. opinion: why people don't stop.

disagreement
gofundme: Zach Severini was a beloved son, brother, and friend whose energy was truly unmatched. To know Zach was to feel joy - his loud Italian humor, spontaneous backflips and splits, and vibrant personality lit up every room he entered. He had a gift for making people feel seen and connected, building friendships that stretched across the globe through his deep love of the EDM community. Whether you knew him for years or met him just once, Zach’s sincerity left a lasting impression.
Now, as we face this unimaginable loss, we want to honor Zach with the celebration of life he so richly deserves. This fund has been created to help his family with the costs of the services and to ensure we can send him off in the way he would have wanted - with love, laughter, and the kind of unforgettable energy he brought into all our lives.
Any donation, no matter the size, is deeply appreciated. Thank you for helping us celebrate the life of our King Xoop.
Long live King Xoop
.
08.25.25: 10:00ish pm, male, possible jump? attempt? save? death? something else?
unknown
thank you, jumpnews reporter:
08.26.25, anon source, ···It was very confusing. Something about man with feet hanging off rail more than a hour earlier.···

any more info is welcome.
08.25.25, iontb/fb, Skyway: Expect delays northbound just south of the center span. Fire rescue and law enforcement activity.

comments:
• John M., They were transported to the Hospital

• Tiffany M., Passed by tonight coming back from Sarasota and saw an empty suv with windows down and 6 officers later: it wasn’t at the base; it was heading northbound and the SUV was parked on the side exactly where the netting (barrier fence) stops as the bridge begins to decline down, way before the bridge runs parallel to the water. I drove past it last night.

• Lauren C., there's also a coast guard helicopter going around the bridge.


• Lauren P., you aren’t going to stop someone who’s at that point. That fence isn’t going to stop anyone. It’s a deterrent for the ones that haven’t fully committed to that decision.

08.26.25, iontb/fb, Fort De Soto: Death investigation after body discovered near the dog park /beach. Possibly related to activity last night on the Skyway Bridge
comments:
• Ashleigh W., This was the coast guard flight from last night that was searching, I figured someone jumped😞


• Chris S.,

facebook post,
comments:
08.26.25, Chelsea B., We were driving home from st Pete around 8pm and saw a large police presence on the bridge along with police boats in the water below.

08.26.25, John M., Before jumping to conclusions there was a Sunstar Ambulance seen running Emergency from the Skyway, towards Bayfront, shortly after the Incident on the Bridge.
there's almost always wild speculation about these events, often with no verification on any of it. definitely can not count on the media to follow through with even a mention.
08.26.25, John M., A sincere thanks for everything You do. As someone who has picked people up after situations like this, it normally takes a few Day's for a Body to wash up. Body has to be submerged long enough for Decomposition to take place. Once that happens the Gas in the Body allows it to become Buoyant which then allows it to float to the Surface. Wind Direction and Currents determines where it ends up. If this person did indeed Drown, it hasn't been submerged long enough to float to the top.
John, just more fuel for the speculationists. thanks for the kind words.
.
05.09.25, facebook post, on this day, 45 years ago, friday, may 9, 1980, 7:33 am, a cargo ship crashed into the skyway and knocked it down. 35 died and 1 survived the fall.
.
04.15.25: possible jump attempt? something else? 10:00pm, male
unknown
thank you, jumpnews reporter:
04.19.25, Joe G., Venice, Florida, regarding: 4.15.25, Around 10 PM on April 15th, I witnessed a man in all black standing near the fence of the bridge. It’s unknown whether or not the man jumped or attempted to jump. To my knowledge, there were no empty vehicles near by.

any more info is welcome.
.
04.01.25: woman in distress incident. possible jump attempt? something else?
unknown
04.01.25, iontb/fb, Skyway Bridge: Trooper from FHP out with the occupant from a vehicle along the southbound lanes of I-275 on the Pinellas side of the bridge. Only one thru lane open at this time.

comments:
04.01.25, Logan N., wasn't an accident i drove by going to manatee. It was a car with a single person they were putting on a stretcher


04.01.25, anon, Woman erratic, said she was fallen angel and also satan. Transported to hospital.


any more info is welcome.
.
03.01.25:  jumper, male, died, body found
unknown
thank you, jumpnews reporters:
03.01.25, anon, Gulfport, Fl., (03.01.25, 12:15pm, male, hit water, died, body found), VHF marine radio

03.01.25, Jim P., facebook, Someone jumped and accomplished their mission today shortly after noon today.

03.01.25, Davonta H., facebook, Someone just jumped today as I was driving across, so sad😕

03.02.25, Jeremy l., Largo, fl., (03.01.25, 1:00pm, hit water, died, body found), Heard on vhf radio on the boat

03.02.25, anon, Body recovered by boater. No vehicle located. Was assumed jumper but I can't confirm. Under invest. later: There was mention of a backpack. I think with person vs on bridge but again no info yet. Hcso, sppd, pcso, and uscg all involved. later: Backpack was with Hispanic male in water. Private boat transported to marina. Sppe reported backpack next to emergency phone also.

03.02.25, Tony G., Wesley Chapel, Was driving southbound heading towards the top of the bridge a little after 12pm when 3 emergency vehicles came speeding behind as soon as they reached the top they all jumped out of their vehicles and just stared looking below. Many more emergency vehicles were coming up on the northbound side as well

any more info is welcome.
facebook post,
comments:
03.02.25, Ricki S., they’re still able to jump with the net?
03.02.25, Mindy O., Yeah if you spend the time to climb them so it’s like one jumper now for everything 6 months instead of several a months. It works. They just kill themsleves other ways…….
03.02.25, Ricki S., Mindy, well even if it saves 1 life it’s worth it
03.02.25, Mindy O., Indeed. I may have even saved mine after a horrific divorce
 
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