UPDATE: 11 a.m. on Friday, March 29: The New York Police Department released dramatic body camera footage this week of a rescue on Monday showing officers pulling a woman from the Hudson River near West 72nd Street.
The footage shows a 20th Precinct officer arriving at the scene and immediately getting into the water to find the woman, who had jumped into the river minutes before, police said.
“When a woman recently jumped into the Hudson River, @NYPD20Pct officers who were nearby rushed to the scene,” NYPD wrote on social media. “Without hesitation, they plunged into the frigid waters & pulled her out where @FDNY personnel performed CPR. She is alive today thanks to their heroic actions.”
Here’s the video.
When a woman recently jumped into the Hudson River, @NYPD20Pct officers who were nearby rushed to the scene. Without hesitation, they plunged into the frigid waters & pulled her out where @FDNY personnel performed CPR. She is alive today thanks to their heroic actions.
Watch⬇️ pic.twitter.com/j1EtR8mb5M
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) March 25, 2024
Original Story
By Daniel Katzive
Firefighters rescued a woman from the frigid waters of the Hudson River just after sundown on Thursday evening.
An NYPD spokesperson told West Side Rag they received a call at 7:09 p.m. about a person in the river. Witnesses told police the woman jumped in, according to the spokesperson. She was rescued after about five minutes in the water and transported to Mount Sinai West hospital in stable condition. The NYPD said the woman was believed to be in her 60s.
Firefighters and police officers could be seen climbing over the railing alongside the promenade near the 72nd Street ball fields and onto the Department of Environmental Protection overflow structure there to retrieve the victim. The person was carried back over the railing and treated on the bike path before being transported to the hospital.
Police and fire boats were on the scene, though they did not appear to participate in the actual rescue. An NYPD helicopter made several low passes over the water.
According to the US Geological Survey, the water temperature in the river was around 45 degrees Fahrenheit Thursday.
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Thanks for this. Was wondering why so many ambulances and police were headed over there last evening. Hope that woman gets the help she needs.
I hope she gets help she needs
May she find healing.
Anyone jumping into 45 degree water can trigger an involuntary gasp. If the head is under water, the gasp brings water into the lungs and the person drowns. This explains why a good swimmer who falls through the ice sometimes disappears. This lady was lucky.
Thanks for this explanation!
What is it about 72nd st??? We seem to be jinxed. Everything happens here.
It is so sad that the city had over $800 million dollars for mental illness several years ago and today we have more mentally ill people on every street than ever. No one investigated that money and there was no accountability. And now billions are being spent on people coming in from every country while the mentally ill and homeless who were already here for years are on every street and stay on the street. That $800+ millions dollars and the billions over the last year could have built 2 top performing mental illness hospitals with thousands of beds. Politicians wins, the people who need true help do not.
Mayor De Blasio’s wife got a huge amount of money for mental illness treatments and I haven’t seen or heard of any actual results.
The congress, for decades, has neglected to amend our immigration and asylum system. The trend continues with Republicans afraid to do anything. Even small, incremental steps to better manage our borders would help. It is a mess.
The laws have been the same for decades. The current migrant crisis started with this administration. The laws are simply not followed with no reason given.
It is interesting that you bring up the border crisis in this situation. It does somewhat relate to mental health care. I disagree with your political take on it though. The migrant crisis has been around for very many years including during the Trump Administration and before that (remember family separations?). Global warming is displacing vast numbers of people and this world-wide crisis can more correctly be blamed for it. The crisis is not a temporary “mismanagement” problem. However, finding a good solutions, is a mismanagement problem. The bi-partisan bill that was ready for a vote earlier this year addresses a load of problems. The bill has not been brought up for a vote and likely will not be voted on until after the election. Donald Trump wants to blame Biden for the border problem as a campaign talking point, so no solutions. Regarding existing immigrations laws, as I understand it, our President is prevented by the courts to close the border even if he/she wanted to do this. This is why we need new immigration laws as soon as possible. Getting back to mental health… people around the world have all sorts of medical issues. It is a part of the human condition; humans get sick. As universal as this is, so medical care systems need to be. Medical care must be accessible to everyone. Just the peace of mind knowing that if you get sick, you can easily get help when you need it. This certainly one way of making our lives making our lives less crazy. I hope the lady in the river gets the help she needs. Mt. Sinai West is a good place.
I know nothing of this person and do hope she gets mental health care if she hasn’t already received it.
Sometimes people have legitimate reasons to want to end their own lives. As a society, we stigmatize them and push them to continue living.
It would be great if self-determination regarding death would be respected.
Again, I don’t know this person’s circumstances. It probably doesn’t matter because I assume this comment will not be included.
I understand your view and do feel that applies in some cases, particularly when people are suffering from incurable illnesses. However, according to studies of suicide survivors, the vast majority of people who attempt suicide and are saved do not go on to kill themselves.
From a Harvard report: “This relatively good long-term survival rate is consistent with the observation that suicidal crises are often short-lived, even if there may be underlying, more chronic risk factors present that give rise to these crises.”
Emotions come and go like waves. People may act impulsively in a momemt of great distress. They may not know how to ask for or obtain help. I think giving someone a second chance at life is worth a try. I lost my husband last year, unexpectedly and prematurely. The physical and emotional heartache I felt was unbearable at times. And while I am still grieving every day, the intensity ebbs and flows with intensity. After a year and half, I am now looking forward to Spring and hoping I can create a life for myself which has some measure of joy and sense of purpose. Hope being the key word. My hope for this woman is that her friends and family will rally around her and lift her up until she can get the care she needs. Love and support are what we all need during hard times.
NOTES: For anyone reading this who is struggling with suicidal feelings, please seek help before taking action. You can call 988 to be connected with the suicide and crisis lifeline.
This is a very good article about how you can talk to someone you worry may be suicidal — written with input from survivors. https://www.health.com/condition/depression/suicide-attempt-survivors
So sad. I hope she can find peace.
Amazing and courageous TEAM work by first responders (FDNY, NYPD, EMS/ EMT) who put their own lives on the line every time they answer a call for help. Much respect.
Thanks to the officers who help us in many, many ways. Hope this woman gets a real second chance.
God bless our First Responders, FDNY and NYPD. Their lives are in danger everyday, yet they run toward the tragedies, never from them.
OMG! I hope she gets the help she needs. And very impressed with the police–yeah, I know it’s their job but still. Very courageous.
Thanks to the rescuers.
God Bless this officer on Good Friday
How absolutely selfldess and heroic on the part of the police, Kudos to them! Somettimes they really are there when you need them. Now I can only hope that this woman gets the help she obviously needs,
Is this the same woman who jumped in a while back this year?
amazing rescue by NY’s finest. Currents in the Hudson can be deadly. The woman and the policeman who went in after her were very lucky.
Incredible heroics by the officers who plunged without hesitation into the icy water, in full uniform. Hurray for the 20th Precinct.
Thank you to all the first responders who helped this woman! You saved a life!
You hear about these things, but seeing it up close makes all that goes into their efforts so much more relatable. Thanks for sharing, WSR.
Thank you to these officers who risked life and limb to get to her with a sense of urgency that reflected the crisis of an imminent drowning. Thank you again and again to the cops in this city who don’t get recognized nearly enough, and don’t get paid nearly enough.