Omaha Police officers rescued a man who jumped off the Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge into the Missouri River Monday evening.
Police were initially dispatched to the bridge shortly before 6:15 PM. after witnesses observed the man kneeling and praying on the bridge. A short time later the same witnesses saw him jump into the ice cold water.
The Omaha Fire Department, Omaha Police Department, Council Bluffs Fire Department, and Council Bluffs Police Department were all dispatched to the area after the man jumped.
The man was observed floating downstream bobbing up and down in the water for some time.
The Omaha Fire Departments River Boat was unavailable. The Omaha Police Department helicopter, Able One, was also unavailable due to weather. It is unclear if this hampered rescue efforts.
Eventually Omaha Police Officers scaled the flood wall and entered the river to rescue the man near the ConAgra campus, between the I-480 and the Union Pacific Railroad bridge.
The jumper was transported by ambulance to the CHI Health Creighton University Medical Center suffering from cold exposure. A second ambulance was called to the scene to check out the police officers who went in the water to save the man.
River Rescue: Bob Kerry Pedestrian Bridge.
Jumper down in the water.
OFD: E1, T1, B1, Riverboat 1, R33, M1.
CBFD— MeanStreets Omaha (@MeanStreetsOMA) February 7, 2017
OPD has already pulled the party out of the water. OFD and CBPD are still trying to figure out where he is and if they should launch boats.
— MeanStreets Omaha (@MeanStreetsOMA) February 7, 2017
M1 enroute to CUMC Code 3 TCC with an unknown age male who jumped from the bridge. Main complaint is he is cold.
— MeanStreets Omaha (@MeanStreetsOMA) February 7, 2017
The selfless and courageous OPD officers who pulled a man from the icy Missouri river tonight are a credit to themselves and our department
— OPD Helicopter (@OPDABLE1) February 7, 2017
