NYC man who jumped into 9/11 memorial has mental health issues, family say city refuses to treat him
The New York man who threw himself into the 9/11 fountain memorial in a suicide attempt on Monday has a long history of mental illness, his family told The Post.
The eldest brother of Jeffrey Hernandez, 33, claims the city has failed him by not providing adequate mental health care, instead funneling billions of dollars into sheltering and caring for newly arrived migrants.
“For the better part of two decades he’s been in and out of hospitals and psych wards,” William Hernandez, 42, told The Post.
He added his brother suffers from schizophrenia and is bipolar and should be in “supervised, residential care for mentally ill people”.
William added Hernandez has continually been deemed ineligible by various New York health agencies for residential care.
“This was probably number 40 of his psychotic breakdowns.
“My parents have been trying to get him in a home for mentally ill people for years but he keeps being deemed ineligible for some reason,” he said.
“What more needs to be showcased for him to be eligible? Immigrants who illegally cross borders get free health care and a place to stay,” he claimed referring to the 60,000 plus migrants currently under the city’s care, who Mayor Eric Adams estimates will end up costing the city $12 billion.
“I don’t have a problem with migrants — most of us have that background — but my brother is also [living] on the street in need of care and he’s not getting the help he needs,” William added.
“My parents are elderly and should be enjoying their retirement but instead are taking the full financial and emotional strain of his mental illness.”
The NYS Office of Mental Health did not immediately respond to questions from The Post.
Hernandez was caught on cellphone video as he plunged 30 feet into the basin of the north reflection pool in front of horrified onlookers on Monday, before pushing his bloodied body into the “central void”, which drops another 20 feet.
Disturbing footage of the incident later went viral.
He reportedly told one of the officers he “did this for his father” but William confirmed to The Post the family has no direct connection to those who lost their lives on 9/11 and his comment would have been out of “remorse or guilt”.
“[Jeffrey] was born and raised in lower Manhattan so he lived through 9/11 but we don’t have a family connection to the memorial,” William explained.
“[The incident he was involved in on Monday] was probably the manifestation of a suicide fantasy.
“He doesn’t really want to die. But there’s just no stopping him when he’s having a psychotic break.”
Jeffrey sustained non-life threatening injuries and was arrested and counts of criminal mischief while recovering in Bellevue hospital, The Post can reveal.
Hernandez appeared from hospital by video for arraignment in NY criminal court on Wednesday but did not enter a plea, according to the District Attorney’s office.
“He is lucky to be alive,” William said, adding his brother is in a stable condition with a back and leg injury.
“He doesn’t remember anything.
“He feels terrible about it.”
In November last year, New York City expanded its the city’s ability to involuntarily commit New Yorkers with chronic and untreated mental illness, so city workers can immediately hospitalize people who refuse treatment, even if they don’t pose a clear and present danger to themselves.
A police report obtained by The Post alleges Hernandez damaged the light fixtures and water “seeped into the electrical board” when he jumped into one of two memorial pools built in the footprints of the Twin Towers that fell during the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.
“As a result of the damage, the light fixtures will cost approximately 30 thousand to repair,” the court document says.
The Fire Department rescued Hernandez from the central drop which is filled with around 18 inches of water.
Hernandez’s next court hearing is scheduled for November 28.
If you are struggling with suicidal thoughts, you can dial the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention hotline at 988 or go to SuicidePreventionLifeline.org.
