Hero (and father of 6) said “I’m goin in” before he jumped into the water to save a suicidal man in Brooklyn. Click below to read the story.

Melissa Nash

A heroic Brooklyn father dove into the waters off Coney Island Friday morning to save a man who attempted suicide.

Lawrence Bowers’ serene stroll along the boardwalk turned into a valiant rescue attempt when he spotted a body floating face down a short distance from the shore.

“There were hundreds of people watching but no one was helping,” the 49-year-old told the News. “He wasn’t even trying to keep himself up … I said now I got to take action. I need to help this man.”

Without a moment’s hesitation, the father of six turned to his pals fishing at the pier and calmly told them: “I’m going in”.

Then he removed his shoes and socks, climbed down a poll reaching into the Atlantic Ocean and jumped.

But as Bowers swam towards the stranger, strong currents kept dragging the limp body further away from his grasp and out to sea.

“I put everything I had into getting to him but the current was pulling him father and father away,” he recalled.

“I knew in my heart that if I didn’t get to his man he could die.”

As rapt onlookers watched events unfold, Bowers kept battling his way towards the man and was about a foot away when a rescue team of scuba divers arrived in a helicopter.

They threw Bowers a life preserver and dove into the water to pull the unresponsive man into a boat where he was given CPR.

He was rushed to Coney Island Hospital and police said he was in a serious condition.

Bowers, who lives a few blocks from the boardwalk, was also taken to the hospital for examination but released a few hours later.

“They thought I had fluid in my lungs,” the avid fisherman said. “I was exhausted more than anything.”

Bowers is currently unemployed but previously worked as a porter for the Brooklyn Cyclones and quickly dismissed any suggestions his Good Samaritan actions were heroic.

“I’m not a hero. I’m just a human being,” he said.

“I just can’t stop thinking about that man.”

His wife and pals were quicker to pile on the compliments and said they were not surprised he was the one who leapt to this troubled man’s aide.

“He’s always been our hero,” his spouse, April Wright, said proudly.