A striking video is circulating on social media showing the moment a woman hung from the drawbridge in Brickell, Miami, and how she ended up falling after being unable to hold on at such a great height.
The scene was recorded by witnesses on the morning of Saturday, June 29. The woman sustained serious injuries.
A terrifying sequence: The video of the moment
The footage captured from different angles shows how the woman, who had attempted to cross the Brickell Avenue drawbridge, became trapped as the structure began to rise.
In the video, the woman is seen at the top of the upward slope, desperately clinging to the metal railing as the angle of the bridge becomes increasingly steep.
At one point, the woman loses her balance, slips, and falls violently down the slope of the metal ramp, crashing onto the pavement.
“ I always thought something like this would happen: ‘What would I do?’ The woman clung with all her might,” one of the witnesses, Robert Bruno, reported to the Miami Herald.
“At first, not many people realized what happened,” Bruno added. “It was intense.”
The facts: Fall and rescue
The accident occurred around 10:40 a.m. when the citizen —whose identity has not been revealed— was attempting to cross the drawbridge at the exact moment it began to open.
Without enough time to reach the other side, she became trapped between the moving segments of the structure.
Despite his efforts to hold on, he ended up falling onto the street. Witnesses immediately alerted 911, and the emergency teams from the city of Miami arrived within minutes.
During the rescue, a police officer suffered a laceration on his hand caused by broken glass.
Both he and the injured woman were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital, according to the Miami Police Department.
Testimonials: Confusion, Shock, and Help
One of the closest eyewitnesses, Connor Walsh, provided a heart-wrenching testimony to 7News.
"I was on the ground, in shock, but it felt like I was spinning. I tried to tell him to hold on, but he was in shock," he said, indicating that both he and the rescuers attempted to stem the bleeding with an improvised tourniquet.
He also pointed out that the woman did not seem to be well from a mental standpoint.
Controversy over the operation of the bridge
The operator of the bridge, as captured by 7News cameras, stated that he did not see the woman on the platform when he began the ascent
According to unconfirmed reports, some witnesses stated that the woman had been "dancing and playing" minutes before the incident, which has sparked speculation about her mental state.
The incident has raised alarms about the safety of drawbridges in high pedestrian traffic areas, such as Brickell, one of the busiest neighborhoods in Miami.
Many wonder whether there were failures in the operational protocols or if it was a tragic combination of recklessness and human error.
Federal regulations establish hours for the opening of this type of facility during peak times, but it relies on proper supervision to prevent these kinds of accidents.
Local authorities have confirmed that a thorough investigation is underway regarding what occurred.
For now, the health status of the woman and the officer remains undisclosed, but both are expected to recover.
Frequently Asked Questions about the accident on the drawbridge in Brickell, Miami
How did the accident happen at the Brickell drawbridge?
The accident occurred when a woman was trying to cross the drawbridge on Brickell Avenue in Miami as it began to open. The woman became trapped in the moving segments of the bridge and, despite her efforts to hold on, ended up falling onto the roadway, sustaining serious injuries.
What is the condition of the woman who fell from the bridge?
So far, no specific details have been released about the health status of the woman who was injured after falling from the drawbridge. She was urgently transferred to Jackson Memorial Hospital, and authorities are continuing to investigate the case.
What security measures are being discussed following the accident on the Brickell bridge?
The incident has reopened the debate about the safety of drawbridges in high pedestrian traffic areas like Brickell. Questions are being raised about the operational protocols and adequate supervision to prevent similar accidents in the future. Local authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the causes of the accident and prevent future incidents.
What did the bridge operator say about the accident?
The bridge operator stated that he did not see the woman on the platform at the moment when the bridge began to rise. This has sparked controversies regarding the attentiveness and effectiveness of the safety procedures implemented during the operation of the bridge.
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