Woman Rescued on Teddy's Beach after Jump from Escape Bridge

Members of the Portsmouth Fire Department rescued a woman who reportedly jumped off the Escape Bridge in the Hummocks section of Portsmouth Thursday night.

The woman was found face down on Teddy’s Beach just south of Stone Bridge partially submerged, but alive, said Portsmouth Fire Dep. Chief Michael P. O’Brien.

The woman, 53, suffered injuries and was complaining of pain to her abdomen and pelvis, O’Brien said, telling responders that she struck some rocks.

The call came in at 9:41 p.m. and Portsmouth immediately launched their Marine 1 and Marine 2 boats to begin a search.

Police had received notice of of distraught 53-year-old woman heading to the Sakonnet River Bridge to jump and found her car unattended on the Escape Bridge.

There was a heavy outgoing tide and Lt. Tom Fagan and Josh Berube searched for the woman using FLIR and spot lights while on Marine 1. Visibility was poor due to the stormy weather conditions, O’Brien said.

At around 10:30 p.m., the woman was seen on the beach by crews aboard Marine 1. The crew alerted the other responders and beached their vessel to help the woman.

The woman was conscious and alert but hypothermic. She was transported by Portsmouth’s Rescue 3 to St. Anne’s Hospital to be treated for non life-threatening injuries.

Portsmouth was aided by members of the Narragansett Bay Marine Task Force including the Tiverton Harbor Master with Tiverton firefighters, the Middletown Fire Department and fire departments from Cranston, Somerset, Providence and Naval Station Newport.

The U.S. Coast Guard also responded.

“Portsmouth Fire would like to thank all of the responding agencies for their response, the positive outcome of this incident is a testament to their fine work,” O’Brien said.