River rescue drama after man falls from Wearmouth Bridge

Emergency services carried out a dramatic river rescue after a man plunged into waters from a Wearside bridge.
By The Newsroom
Published 5th Feb 2016, 05:30 BST
Updated 15th Feb 2016, 10:20 BST
A major emergency response was sparked after a man plunged into the River Wear from Wearmouth Bridge.A major emergency response was sparked after a man plunged into the River Wear from Wearmouth Bridge.
A major emergency response was sparked after a man plunged into the River Wear from Wearmouth Bridge.

A major land and sea operation was scrambled at 12.40am today after coastguards were alerted that a man had fallen into the River Wear from the Wearmouth Bridge in Sunderland.

The alarm was raised with coastguards by police after reports a man had jumped from the bridge.

Emergency services were called to the River Wear to rescue a man from the waters.Emergency services were called to the River Wear to rescue a man from the waters.
Emergency services were called to the River Wear to rescue a man from the waters.
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Police, the ambulance service and fire crews from Fulwell and Byker were swiftly despatched, along with coastguards and the Sunderland RNLI boat.

The man, whose age is not known, was discovered in the waters and safely taken back onto dry land.

He was then taken to hospital via ambulance for medical assistance.

His condition is not currently known.

Emergency services were called to the River Wear to rescue a man from the waters.Emergency services were called to the River Wear to rescue a man from the waters.
Emergency services were called to the River Wear to rescue a man from the waters.

A coastguard spokesman said: "We received a call at 12.41am of a person who had jumped from the Wearmouth Bridge into the River Wear.

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"Coastguards, the police, the ambulance service, fire crews and the Sunderland RNLI attended the scene.

"The casualty was recovered from the water and was placed in an ambulance within half an hour.

"We do not know his current condition."

Emergency services were called to the River Wear to rescue a man from the waters.Emergency services were called to the River Wear to rescue a man from the waters.
Emergency services were called to the River Wear to rescue a man from the waters.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesman said: "We were called to the south side of Wearmouth Bridge after reports a man had jumped into the water.

"The male was transported to Newcastle's RVI Hospital by ambulance."

Related topics:PoliceWearmouth BridgeRiver WearSunderlandNorth East Ambulance Service