Officers pulled her out of the River Wear and gave her 20 minutes of CPR before managing to find a pulse, after she survived the 100ft drop and more than 15 minutes in the freezing water.

Firefighters had to run 500 metres along the river bank in darkness, as there was no access for vehicles, in a bid to catch up with the 30-year-old as the strong currents pulled her out towards the sea.

Two officers lowered themselves down a ladder on the side of the river at Panns Bank and caught her as she was dragged along face down.

Tony Brew, watch manager at South Shields Fire Station, who were called out because of their special training in rope rescue, said: "We really had one chance to save her as she went by and luckily we managed it.

"It was a real team effort with crews from Fulwell involved.

"It is incredible that she survived the fall, but also spending 15 minutes in the water.

"Our crews battled for 20 minutes giving her oxygen and heart compressions before we found a pulse. We just hope that she survives."

Tony, 45, from East Boldon and fellow firefighter Chris Blackhurst, 44, from South Shields, and Gareth Edwards from Fulwell, were involved in pulling the woman out.

Chris added: "We knew we had just one chance of grabbing her so we had to make sure we got her."

The woman is in a critical condition in Sunderland Royal Hospital, after the incident that began at 6.40pm yesterday.

An off duty firefighter phoned in after seeing her threatening to jump off the bridge, but despite efforts from police officers she went off the side.

The (RNLI) Atlantic 85 Inshore Lifeboat Wolseley from Sunderland Lifeboat Station was provided support to the officers.

In a separate incident, a man was pulled to safety in a dramatic sea rescue off the coast at Roker.

The Sunderland RNLI inshore lifeboat and Coastguard were alerted shortly before 1am yesterday, after reports that a man had entered the water opposite Marine Walk.

The 36-year-old was eventually spotted floating 150 metres offshore by the police helicopter's searchlight beam.

He was pulled on to the lifeboat, which landed him on Roker beach.

After being treated by paramedics at the scene he was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital.