Bodycam footage shows an NYPD police officer climbing the Williamsburg Bridge in the rain to persuade a desperate man who was threatening to jump
- Footage shows the moment NYPD officers rescue a distressed man from the Williamsburg Bridge
- The emergency services managed to bring the man to safety after numerous calls on Sunday evening
- An officer can be heard telling the man: “Whatever you’re going through, it happens to all of us, man, you know.” But we have to get you out of here.
Stunning bodycam footage shows the moment NYPD officers scaled the Williamsburg Bridge in the pouring rain to rescue a desperate man who was threatening to jump.
Officers responded to numerous 911 calls after the man was spotted on the bridge, which sits 135 feet above the East River at its center, shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday.
In the video released by the NYPD, officers are seen climbing the bridge, which is drenched in rain following Post-Tropical Storm Ophelia on the East Coast.
An officer can be heard saying to the man: “My man, talk to me.” I’m here to help you, man, talk to me. What’s your name?
“Whatever you’re going through, it happens to all of us, man, you know? But we gotta get you out of here.”
Officials are seen climbing the bridge, which is drenched in rain after post-tropical storm Ophelia hit the east coast
The footage shows the moment the man is pulled to safety after being tasered from the bridge
The officer continues: “We have to do this carefully because it is raining and it is extremely slippery.” “Your safety and that of my partners are important to me.”
The video then shows the man, wearing dark blue pants, boots and a gray top, being safely lowered by officers strapped into the bridge’s steelworks.
Footage shared on Citizen shows the number of police units that responded to the call, with flashing lights illuminating the bridge.
In a statement, the NYPD said, “On 9/24/23 at 5:23 p.m., Emergency Medical Services Unit officers responded to 911 calls of a distressed man threatening to jump from the Williamsburg Bridge.”
“Hovering hundreds of meters above the water, they were undeterred by the dangerous rain conditions and were able to persuade the individual to move to safety.”
Officials battled pouring rain that had made the bridge slippery
Officers from the emergency services unit (pictured here) responded to the call and brought the man to safety
“If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, counselors are available 24/7 to support you.” Simply dial 988.
“If someone is in imminent danger of injury or is in immediate danger due to a medical condition, call 911.”
In 2018, the NYPD received a similar call and spoke to a man for 75 minutes before they managed to get him safely off the bridge.
When law enforcement arrived on the Manhattan side of the bridge, they found the “extremely emotionally disturbed” man standing on cables.