Man Survives Jump Off George Washington Bridge

Last Friday, a man jumped off the George Washington Bridge—and survived and managed to swim to the NJ side, where he was taken to a hospital. According to the NY Post, "Adrian Rawn, 28, took the plunge without so much as a pause after abruptly stopping his car on the span's lower level at about 11:30 a.m." And that would be a 212-foot plunge into 55-degree water.

Rawn, who was a star on the Naval Academy's water polo and swimming teams and is listed as an assistant water polo coach at the University of Maryland, was found clinging to a rock by Fort Lee church deadon Gi Yeon Rheem, who told the Post, "He started shivering...He got up and walked into the sunshine. I gave him my scarf, and he said, 'Thank you.'"

Miraculously, he didn't suffer any brain injuries, just a concussion, cuts and bruises. Yesterday, the Post reported, "In recent weeks, he was having trouble at work and his grandmother died, sources said," while it previously mentioned that Rawn "was pepper-sprayed by cops while allegedly resisting arrest" after "drunkenly beating up a Northampton, Mass., cabby in a fare dispute."

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Chung in News on November 9, 2009 12:59 PM

Comments [rss]

lurch

i'm good friends with the cabby this asshole did not beat up the cab driver cab driver beat his ass he is lucky he didn't get pisssed off an only slapped him around

robingee

CANNON BALL!!!

Avoid traffic by swimming the Hudson. I like it.

jlocke

I posted this in the tips about 20 minutes after it happened (it was all over NYPD radio), although now it's 3 days later and we're quoting the Post.

NannyState

Whadda yoo want? A fuckin' parade?

mrguy

perhaps there are some experts here: if you do go off a bridge or for whatever reason find yourself hurtling towards a body of water at high speed, what position should you take in order to have the best chances of surviving? Cannonball? Pencil position with feet pointed down and holding your nose?

ANGRYGOD11

According to San Francisco Golden Gate experts the fall lasts 4 seconds and the person would hit the water at 87mph. I'm assuming GWB stats are similar.

What's amazing is Rawn suffered so little damage he swam to shore instead of drowning or dying from hypothermia.

ed_Extinct

Pin drop (with some injuries)

Anything else would be like hitting concrete at 120mph—SPLAT!

NannyState

A half-twist with a triple Gainer and then a pike before straightening for the splashless finish.

Mr Mel

"A half-twist with a triple Gainer and then a pike before straightening for the splashless finish."

I tried it and it doesn't work and I almost broke my glasses.

DanielJ

They say to do the "pencil dive" with your toes pointed downward and arms at your sides, and ass muscles clenched so your insides don't fill up with water.

Once you hit the water, fan your arms out to slow your descent and immediately begin kicking towards the surface.

tijuanatornado

Not an expert but will butt in saying that a diving classic position is probably the best, the least resistance to that wall of water the better, you want to cut through it not slam against it.

ZANSR

You would break your neck if you went diving in head first. After a 200+ foot drop there is no avoiding the resistance, the water is just like hitting concrete at a high rate of speed. Also letting your head hit first is not the best idea. Your arms would most likely crumple providing no protection and the impact would cause severe and traumatic brain injuries. Feet first is the way to go... and even then it is a crap shoot if you will survive.