Champ Talks Man Off the Ledge

January 19, 1981 - A despondent Vietnam veteran climbed out on a Los Angeles fire escape and threatened to jump to his death on this day.

By coincidence, the Greatest of All Time himself, A.K.A. Muhammad Ali was nearby and when he learned of the situation he rushed to the scene. The Champ personally spoke with the man for about 20 minutes, calmly engaging him and urging him not to jump.

Ali reportedly told him things like:

“I’m your brother.
Everything’s going to be all right.
You’re too valuable to lose.”

Witnesses and police officers later said Ali’s presence had an immediate calming effect. The man eventually stepped back from the ledge and was safely taken into custody for medical evaluation.