Trapped teen rescued after apparent social media trend went wrong on bridge in New York City

NEW YORK– An apparent stunt sparked a massive rescue effort along the Queensboro Bridge in New York City on Monday evening.

Video shows first responders carefully working to rescue a teenager who fell into an enclosed area within the bridge span.

The life-saving mission took place around 9pm on Monday when firefighters lifted a 16-year-old boy from the shaft of one of the buttresses.

The entire incident may have started due to a trend on social media.

“The adrenaline felt was moving. But this is what we train for,” said firefighter Khalid Lee.

It was a race against time as they searched tower by tower for the teen until they came across clues.

“When I saw the shoe and the blood, I just relayed that information to the rest of the members on the scene so we could all get the ball rolling on what we were going to use to retrieve this victim once we saw him. He was just mumbling from the severe trauma he had experienced,” Lee said.

Authorities say the boy fell about 50 feet into a 3-by-3-foot shaft after climbing part of the Roosevelt Island bridge earlier in the day as part of a daring social media stunt.

“They set up a rope system from the road surface and what we call a spec suit, which is a device that we use to pack patients who are in a very confined space,” Lt. Chris Gaulrapp said.

A young woman who knew the teenager learned of the incident around 5 p.m. after a video circulated on WhatsApp.

“I texted them anonymously. I didn’t really know what to do either, because I wasn’t there. But I, you know, these kids are panicking. And I thought: if someone is in serious danger, I have to help,” said the girl.

She said the teen climbed the bridge with a small group of friends who apparently left the teen alone after he fell down the shaft.

She said those who knew the teen are praying for his recovery and hoping others don’t make the same mistake.

“Cry for help for their friends, stay with them and do not follow the course they have taken,” she said.

Authorities say the teen remains in the hospital.