A 44-year-old man shocked tourists and pedestrians in New York City after climbing the Brooklyn Bridge, displaying multiple flags and then jumping from the top of the iconic structure into the East River.
The incident happened on Sunday afternoon when the man climbed the north tower of the bridge on the Manhattan side before removing his clothes and placing flags at the top, according to police sources. One of the flags was reportedly the national flag of Kazakhstan, while another appeared to be a blanket carrying unclear writing.
Members of the New York Police Department’s Emergency Service Unit attempted to persuade the man to come down safely, but he eventually jumped from the approximately 278-foot-high tower in front of stunned onlookers.
Video footage shared online appeared to show the man holding an item above his head as he fell, before plunging into the East River. He was quickly rescued by NYPD Harbor Unit officers and taken to NYC Health + Hospitals Bellevue, where he was reported to be in stable condition.
Police said the circumstances surrounding the man’s actions remain under investigation, including the reason behind the flag display and the dangerous stunt.
The Brooklyn Bridge, one of New York’s most recognisable landmarks, has previously seen incidents involving people climbing the structure, prompting emergency responses from authorities.
