Woman Rescued From River After Bridge Jump During Mental Health Crisis

Deputies, Lee County EMS, and the Fort Myers Fire Department responded on April 30, 2026, after a woman in a mental health crisis jumped from a bridge over the Caloosahatchee River.

Emergency units arrived and an Advanced Technology Support Unit quickly deployed drones and rapid response tools to locate the woman in the water. The aerial system tracked her position and supported coordination during the rescue effort.

Drone operator Justin McDonald provided continuous updates and helped maintain situational awareness, assisting communication between responding teams on the scene.

Fire Rescue personnel, supported by aerial tracking, carried out the recovery operation and successfully brought the woman out of the river.

A message shared in connection with the incident emphasized that support is available and no one has to face crisis alone.

Officials confirmed that multiple agencies worked together during the response and that the woman survived the incident after being rescued from the water.