A railroad bridge in Florida opened up over Fort Lauderdale's New River – with a woman clinging on the whole time.
According to ABC News, Wanda McGowan attempted to cross the railroad bridge after a 5k walk raising money for breast cancer when the bridge went up. There were clearly-posted signs warning pedestrians that the bridge was not to be walked across, and the bridge also gives a loud warning sound before opening up.
“She was hanging on for dear life,” one witness told WPLG-TV.
After 20 minutes of hanging tight to the bridge, firefighters were able to help McGowan down, uninjured, with a 24-foot ladder.
"The decision to trespass on private property was an unfortunate, poor choice that endangered the trespasser’s life as well as the lives of the first responders," said Fort Lauderdale city spokesman Matt Little in a statement, according to CBS Miami.
The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports that McGowan may even face fines for trespassing on the bridge. Robert Ledoux, a spokesman for the Florida East Coast Railway said he the whole incident was an accident, explaining, "My understanding is that she elected to take a shortcut home."
Image: YouTube screen shot