John Tumpane could have easily continued on his path back to his Pittsburgh hotel and ignored the potential human tragedy that was developing 30 feet from him.

Let’s be honest. Many people would have.

Tumpane, however, wasn’t raised that way.

“When you see something that doesn’t look right or you think somebody is in trouble, you try to do the right thing and help,” Tumpane said. “It was all about helping somebody.”

In this case, it was more than just helping. It was about saving another person’s life.

Tumpane, a St. Laurence graduate and a Major League Baseball umpire, prevented a woman from jumping into the Allegheny River on Wednesday.

Tumpane, 34, was in Pittsburgh to umpire the series between the Pirates and the Tampa Bay Rays at PNC Park.

He had just finished lunch at a national fast-food chain prior to the life-altering event unfolding.

Let’s just be thankful Tumpane chose to eat at a place that prides itself on “Freaky Fast” service. If not, Tumpane might not have been walking on the Roberto Clemente Bridge at the precise time the 23-year-old woman was considering jumping into the river.

There were no guarantees another person walking on the bridge at that moment would have exhibited the same bravery as Tumpane.

“I was walking over the bridge, and I saw a woman put her leg up to go over the rail of the bridge,” Tumpane said. “She was struggling, and that caught my attention. She tried it again and was able to get herself over the railing. It looked like a potential situation that could end badly. I needed to do something. That’s when I went over and put my arm over her.”

When Tumpane asked the woman what she was doing, she told him she was looking at the city from this side of the bridge.

She then told Tumpane, “Let me go.”

“That’s when I put my arms around her,” Tumpane said. “I told her, ‘I’m not letting go.’ I knew there was trouble at that point. The railing was up to my armpits, so I didn’t have much leverage.”

Tumpane asked observers to call 911.

“I was trying to not startle her,” he said. “She was crying. She slipped her feet off the ledge. That’s when another pedestrian helped out.”

Two other people, along with a police boat stationed in the river and a police helicopter above, offered additional help.

“They were able to get a life preserver on her and handcuffed one of her hands to the bridge,” Tumpane said. “They got her back over the railing where she was safe. She said that no one cared about her and that we were all going to forget about her. I leaned over to wipe the tears away and told her that I won’t forget about her.”

St. Laurence baseball coach Pete Lotus and Tumpane are friends. Lotus said Tumpane’s actions were right in character.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all,” Lotus said. “He truly is a great person. He’s genuine. He comes back to talk to our kids, and he’s so down to earth. He’s always giving back. This is a total reflection on the type of person he is.”

Tumpane has been a full-time MLB umpire since last season. His schedule will have him back in Pittsburgh later in the summer.

“I was able to get some information, and they say she’s stable right now,” Tumpane said. “When I get back to Pittsburgh, I’m going to try tracking her down and see how she’s doing.”

Tumpane’s selfless act generated national attention. He’s been on NBC’s “Today” show, ESPN’s “SportsCenter,” CNN and other television and radio outlets describing his ordeal.

“I never had a press conference before Thursday,” Tumpane said. “I’m just happy there’s a positive ending and we’re able to talk about this.”

Only because of Tumpane’s heroism.

pdisabato@tribpub.com