FDNY crews navigate bridge interior to reach trapped victim
NEW YORK, NY – Firefighters entered a bridge anchorage space roughly 50 feet from its entrance on the Queensboro Bridge and brought a trapped individual to safety during a confined space rescue operation late Monday night.
The rescue unfolded at approximately 8:50 p.m. when members of Rescue Company 1, along with other FDNY units and officers from the New York City Police Department, responded to the bridge linking Manhattan and Queens. The victim was located about 50 feet inside one of the bridge’s anchorages, a restricted structural area not open to the public.
Fire crews used rope rescue systems and coordinated communication to reach the individual inside the confined structure. The operation required members to maneuver within a limited-access environment while maintaining safety protocols designed for high-risk rescues.
Officials said the victim was successfully removed from the anchorage and brought out of the structure without reported complications during the extraction. The condition of the individual was not immediately released.
The response involved specialized equipment and training associated with confined space and technical rescue incidents. Such operations require coordination between multiple units and partner agencies due to structural constraints and potential hazards within bridge infrastructure.
The Queensboro Bridge, also known as the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge, is one of the city’s major East River crossings and includes internal anchorage chambers that support its suspension system. Access to these areas is typically restricted to authorized personnel.
The incident remains under review, and no additional details were provided regarding how the individual entered the anchorage.
Key Points
- FDNY Rescue Company 1 responded to a confined space rescue on the Queensboro Bridge Monday night
- The victim was located approximately 50 feet inside a bridge anchorage
- Firefighters used rope rescue equipment to remove the individual safely