Spokane7
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November 17, 2011 in City
Woman who jumped from Monroe bridge rescued from river
Rescuers power upstream on the Spokane River near the Maple Street Bridge on Wednesday after a woman jumped from the Monroe Street Bridge.
(Full-size photo)
A woman was rescued Wednesday from the Spokane River after surviving a 135-foot jump off the Monroe Street Bridge.
As soon as she leapt from the west side railing at the center of the bridge, police rescuers who had just arrived to the scene ran to their patrol cars and headed downstream.
Spokane firefighters, who were already on their way, joined officers in setting up watch points along the river following the 10:20 a.m. incident.
Crews ran to the shorelines.
The 41-year-old woman drifted quickly downstream. Current in the river was running at a low level.
Rescuers reported by radio that they had seen her head bobbing out of the water. She eventually reached an eddy where the swirl brought her close enough to the north bank that rescuers could get a hold on her, said Assistant Fire Chief Brian Schaeffer.
She was grabbed by rescuers along a rugged strip of city-owned conservation land less than 200 yards downstream from the Maple Street Bridge.
Fire officials said she was suffering hypothermia as well as multiple injuries. She was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
“It’s incredible,” Schaeffer said of the survival and rescue. “It was pretty much a miracle.”
He said she easily could have drowned even after surviving the fall. “I don’t think she had a lot of time,” Schaeffer said.
The assistant chief credited teamwork between the fire and police departments, including previous planning on river rescues that includes a protocol to dispatch ambulances.
Thirty-two firefighters responded to the incident, plus police officers and ambulance crews.
Returning farmland to a state of nature 
opiemuyo on November 17 at 12:44 p.m.
Thank you everyone for putting your lives in jeopardy to save this poor soul, and thank you for being ready to do so every day you go to work.
The_Seer on November 17 at 4:21 p.m.
Nice work. I’m not sure it rises to the level of hyperbolical praise for the po-po and fire engine washers opie has slathered upon this event, but still, nice work.
jimmy on November 17 at 5:12 p.m.
The seer must live in a fire proof home and has ensured that no medical emergency will ever befall him. All hyperbole aside, my brothers and sisters get up to go to work not knowing what they will deal with or if they will come home alive, not sure if you can say that about a lot of professions. Sure Chief S. looks like a youngster (with gray hair) but you need to pick on someone else, like the new mayor. If the Chief is Opie, is he Goober??