Several Tipsters shared this video from a FDNY Instagram post of an East River water rescue under the Roosevelt Island Bridge last night.
According to the FDNY:
Responding to a report of a person in the water around 10 p.m. Wednesday night, #FDNY Marine 6 rescued a person who was pinned against the pilings and hanging onto a pipe conduit, barely above the surface on the south side of the Roosevelt Island Bridge.
Battling a powerful current, broken pilings and debris in the water, a Marine 6 firefighter jumped into the water, swam to the patient and wrapped them between himself and a rescue torpedo. While leaving the stanchion, the current swept the firefighter and the patient under the bow of Marine 6.
Thanks to the skillful piloting of the boat and the coordinated efforts of the crew, the firefighter and the patient were brought aboard. The patient was treated for hypothermia and transferred to EMS care.
“The current was coming in from behind the boat. We had to get as close as possible so the swimmer could get close enough so he wouldn’t get swept away. We also had to make sure we wouldn’t endanger the patient,” Marine 6 Captain Sean Regan said. “Overall, it was a huge team effort to recover the patient and transfer them to EMS.”
I asked the FDNY:
Is there any info how and why the person rescued last night by FDNY in the East River under the Roosevelt Island bridge got in the water?
Did the person jump from the RI Bridge or enter from Roosevelt Island? Any other info?
A FDNY spokesperson replied:
Call received @ 2215 hrs
Reported person in water
ROOSEVELT ISL BRDG 36 AVE-VERNON BLVD, QN
1 person removed by FD Marine unit
1 transport to NY Presbyterian – Weill Cornell
No condition/pedigree
No info as to why the person was in the East River.