Bradford City Fire and Police departments staged a tricky rescue Monday evening when officers and firefighters were dispatched to Kennedy Street for a report of a woman who had jumped from the bridge.

Police report a 38-year-old woman jumped from the bridge into the East Branch of Tunungwant Creek around 8 p.m. and was seriously injured, requiring rescue by fire and police personnel. The person reportedly did not fall into any water, but on a concrete area in the creek bed below — a fall of more than 20 feet.

The rescue, Police Chief Mike Ward said, involved Bradford City Fire Department’s Tower 1 for a basket and water rescue. Part of the Bradford Flood Control Project, concrete walls that guide the creek within city limits, challenged responders, but the woman was successfully extricated and flown to an out-of-area trauma center.

Fire Chief Brett Butler said the emergency was rare, but one for which firefighters train nonetheless.

“It was a more technical, high-angle rope rescue,” Butler explained. “We used Tower 1 and Squad 1 to establish a rigging system with rope to hoist the patient in a Stokes (or litter) basket, out of the creek.”

Butler explained that the ladder on Tower 1 can be used as a high point for rigging the rope system, but it cannot be lifted up or down.

“The walls of the creek did present a challenge because there were no access points in that immediate area,” Butler noted, adding there is a ramp but it is farther downstream at Davis Street.

Fire and police personnel used extension ladders along the walls to reach the woman with EMS equipment and begin treatment.

“This can be a complex type of rescue,” Butler said, “especially when the water is involved, but thankfully we have had a break from the rain so the water level was lower than it has been.”

City Police Officer Tyler Blair was the first emergency responder on scene and attempted to climb down to the woman in the creek from the side — still a 15-foot drop, Ward said — when he lost his footing, fell and also required medical treatment.

After the woman was en route to treatment, firefighters attended to Blair. Ward said, “Luckily, it was nothing serious for Tyler, we don’t think, but he’s resting and we expect him to be back soon … nothing long term.”

Ward continued, “These situations are often dangerous — extrications like (the one Monday evening). These guys know that’s part of the job. I appreciate seeing the actions of both the officers and fire department working together to help somebody in need even if it puts themselves at risk. It’s very humbling.”

Ward noted local residents — Tim Mihalko, Andrew Dilling and Leon Pire — were the first to come upon the scene as they were walking home that evening.

“They were the first ones there to offer care to the woman and they also assisted Officer Blair,” Ward said. “We want to say thank you to the public when they step forward like that, there’s a lot to be said for that, too.”

Butler said off-duty fire department personnel were called in, some assisting at the scene, others handling additional EMS calls and some standing by in case any other calls came in.

“We did have an ambulance out on another call just prior to receiving the call at Kennedy Street, so our duty crew was a little shorthanded to start, but they handled the incident well and adapted as needed.”

Bradford Township Police also responded. Butler said police and fire personnel “worked flawlessly together.”

Ward said, “I have been in those situations and it’s never easy. We try to handle situations with the safety and procedures that we’ve been trained to use. Our hearts go out to the woman (who was injured).”

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