Man climbs over fence on Gold Star bridge
First responders converged on the Gold Star Memorial Bridge late Wednesday night after a man climbed onto the outside of the fencing on the southbound span, a New London fire official said.
Two witnesses had reported that someone jumped from the bridge, New London Fire Department Battalion Chief Jeffrey Rheaume said. That prompted a search of the Thames River and the land around the bridge, he said.
Responders spoke with the man, who had not jumped, and he climbed back over the fence, Rheaume said. The fire department transported him to Lawrence + Memorial Hospital.
The regional marine group and Coast Guard Station New London had boats on the water, and there were emergency vehicles on the span and at either end of it, including firetrucks, ambulances and police cruisers from surrounding municipalities, for what state police at Troop E in Montville called a "search and rescue operation." Responders swept spotlights over the bridge to locate the man.
The operation began about 8:40 p.m. and was resolved at 9:19 p.m., state police said. No further information was immediately available.
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