Teen Rescued From Arkansas River

A teenager is lucky to be alive after intentionally jumping from the Tulsa pedestrian bridge. Rescue crews are being credited with quick action as the teen was trapped in the swift moving water near 31st and Riverside.

News On 6 anchor Craig Day reports firefighters say they're fortunate they didn't have to pull a body from the water.

Tulsa firefighters say a teenager, on an outing with a group of other teens, intentionally jumped from the pedestrian bridge over the Arkansas River to cool off. He quickly realized it was a bad decision.

Witness Brian Pea couldn't believe what happened.

"I saw him and he was holding his nose.  He just kind of jumped into the water," said Pea.

The 14-year-old was able to grab hold of a branch sticking out of the water and held on while others called for help.

Onlookers hoped for the best.

"Scary.  Especially since the river is so high," said Kenneth Parsons.

The river, swollen by recent heavy rains, is very swift and dangerous.

"I didn't understand why he would do that especially with the heavy current running under the bridge," said Pea.

Rescue crews tossed a life preserver connected to a rope to the teen, to secure him until rescue boats could get there. Boats were also downstream and a helicopter was also ready to pluck him out of the water if needed.

"Incredible response from the Tulsa Fire Department.  Hands down," said James Harrison.

After about 30 minutes in the water, the boy was safely loaded onto a boat.  Firefighters say the rescue couldn't have had a better outcome.  But it could have been much worse.

"If the situation would have been where he would have been in the water.  And made it past, did not grab the tree.  We would have been doing a body recovery at this time instead of a rescue," said Tulsa Fire Captain Michael Baker.

"If there wouldn't have been a log to hang on to, within two feet of him, he would have went over the dam and into the undertow and he'd be a goner.  He wouldn't be here right now," said Harrison.

The teen was checked out by EMSA and has only minor injuries.

"I don't know what he was thinking, but I'm sure he won't do it again," said Parsons.

This is the second river rescue Tulsa firefighters have had in the past week here along the same stretch of the Arkansas River.