A 55-year-old lady had been a participant in a breast cancer awareness walk when she decided to stop and stroll across the New River railroad bridge. Terrifyingly, the bridge began to open while she was on it and she was left hanging approximately 22 feet over the tracks.

Drawbridges are a common sight in towns surrounded by bodies of water.

A woman in Florida is lucky to be alive after a mishap left her dangling from a railroad bridge in Fort Lauderdale. The 55-year-old had participated in a breast cancer awareness walk and afterward decided to stop and stroll across the New River railroad bridge.

Terrifyingly the bridge began to open while she was on it. The woman was left hanging approximately 22 feet over the tracks.

A crowd immediately gathered. Witnesses called 911 for assistance.

Thankfully Fort Lauderdale firefighters were able to save the lady, by using a 24 foot ladder to reach her. The rescue efforts took about half an hour. Fortunately, the unidentified female was unharmed physically.

However local authorities pointed out she should have never been on the bridge, as signs are posted, warning pedestrians to keep off. A spokesman for the city of Fort Lauderdale stated“The decision to cross the clearly marked railroad bridge should not be lauded. We hope the news reports about this incident will help to educate the public about the dangers of pedestrians attempting to cross railroad bridges.”