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Rescue crew saves man who jumped from bridge

Police radio communications indicated that workers on the bridge called 911 after seeing the man jump into the water

By Brian Fraga
The Herald News

FALL RIVER, Mass. — A man reportedly jumped from the Veterans Memorial Bridge this afternoon, officials said.

Fall River Assistant Harbormaster Kara O’Connell, operating a civilian boat, found the man in the water near the bridge’s midway point, and brought him to the boat dock at Bicentennial Park.

Fall River Harbormaster Bob Smith said O’Connell immediately performed CPR on the individual, who was described as a white, middle-aged man. Paramedics were also seen performing CPR on the victim after he was brought to the dock.

Paramedics transported the victim by ambulance to a local hospital. An update on the man’s condition was not immediately available.

Police radio communications indicated that workers on the bridge called 911 after seeing the man jump into the water just before 1 p.m. Fall River police officers, firefighters and paramedics immediately responded. O’Connell was painting a harbormaster boat at a boat yard when the call came in. Smith said she immediately got into another boat and went searching for the victim, finding him in less than five minutes.

“She did a great job,” Smith said.

Fall River Acting Fire District Chief Sean Flannery said at the scene that the police department was still investigating the incident to determine exactly what happened.

Copyright 2017 The Herald News