Dramatic bodycam footage reveals the intense moment New York City police officers rescued a woman teetering on the steel cables of the Brooklyn Bridge above the East River on Wednesday. The NYPD's Emergency Service Unit responded to the bridge at around 7:38 p.m. after receiving reports of a person in distress.
The newly released video shows officers scaling the bridge to reach the woman, whose feet dangled precariously over the edge of one of the bridge's steel cables. One officer attempts to engage her in conversation, asking, "I just wanna talk. What’s happening today?" as he tries to coax her to safety.
The officer continues to speak with the woman, urging her to accept help. He emphasizes that taking her own life would be a permanent solution to a temporary problem and offers support, saying, "I wanna help you, that’s why I’m up here right now. I genuinely care, I do. We have services we can get you to."
As the woman stands on the cable, holding onto another support cable with one arm, an officer carefully approaches her and wraps his arms around her, pulling her to safety. He reassures her, "Don’t do it. Don’t do it, please. Please, please. I got you. You’re OK, I promise. I got you, I promise. Everything’s gonna be OK. You’re not in trouble."
Police say officers spent nearly an hour talking with the woman before safely bringing her down the bridge. The rescue unfolded during rush hour, forcing the closure of all eastbound lanes on the bridge for several hours.
The NYPD Commissioner has praised the responding officers for their care, courage, and compassion. The dramatic rescue is a testament to the bravery and dedication of the police officers who put their lives on the line to save others.
