Bridge rescue saves dangling woman in Fort Lauderdale

October 13, 2013 (FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.) -- A woman seen dangling from a Fort Lauderdale bridge was rescued Saturday by firefighters after she participated in a cancer walk earlier in the day.

The woman was walking across the New River railroad bridge when it began to open. Witnesses called 911 to report that the woman was dangling 22 feet above the tracks with the bridge in the upright position, city officials said.

"To tell you the truth, honestly I thought it was probably like a stunt or something, it was just that unbelievable. I really didn't think she honestly was trapped up there at first," Ashanicka Powell told WTVJ.

Firefighters responded and helped rescue the woman using a 24-foot ladder as witnesses cheered them on. She was not injured.

"They harnessed the ladder up against the actual tracks and a firefighter went and got her and we were all clapping, like we were just amazed," Powell said.

The 55-year-old woman, who was wearing a pink shirt, told authorities she had taken part in a breast cancer awareness walk earlier Saturday morning. It was not clear why she was on the bridge since pedestrians are not allowed on it.

The woman wasn't immediately identified.

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