Northumbria Police said they were alerted to the incident at around 1.30pm this afternoon (September 29).
Around 20 emergency services vehicles could be seen on the banks of the River Wear including from the police, Tyne & Wear Fire and Rescue Service, the Coastguard, and the RNLI.
The Air Ambulance and paramedic teams from the North East Ambulance Service were also deployed to the scene as a potential rescue operation got underway.
Later this afternoon, rescue boats could be seen heading up the River Wear where there was also an emergency services presence on the Millennium Bridge.
Check out these 13 dramatic photographs of a worrying day on Wearside as we await further news from the emergency services.




