State Police, Bystanders Rescue Jumper Below Mt. Hope Bridge

PORTSMOUTH, RI — Rhode Island State Police and two members of the public rescued a woman from the water below the Mount Hope Bridge earlier this week, the department said Friday. The woman, who jumped from the bridge on Tuesday afternoon, is in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery.

According to police, traffic officers on the bridge saw the woman pull over on the Portsmouth side around 1 p.m. on Tuesday. She got out of her car and walked towards the bridge's center span, then climbed onto the railing and jumped off as the troopers tried to get her attention and talk to her.

State Police Detective Michael O’Neill was nearby at the time and, hearing about the jumper over the radio, drove to the base of the bridge, where he saw the woman floating in the water. After grabbing a life ring from his vehicle, O'Neill dove into the water and swam towards the woman.

At the same time, Lawrence and Lynn Walsh, two members of the public who live nearby, saw the woman in the water and rowed towards her in their inflatable boat. O'Neill climbed into the boat with them and they continued to row towards the woman. They pulled her into the boat and brought her back to shore.

Portsmouth emergency responders brought the woman to Rhode Island Hospital, where she is reportedly in stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery, state police said.