Woman rescued from Allegheny River by passersby, police

A woman was rescued from the Allegheny River on Tuesday after breaking her ankle and falling into the water in Pittsburgh.

She had been exercising along the riverwalk when she lost her balance and fell into the water, according to Pittsburgh Police spokeswoman Cara Cruz. She had been with a group of friends, but they were ahead of her and did not see her fall.

She was spotted by two women who were walking their dogs on a grassy area nearby. According to Cruz, the women heard “faint cries for help.” They followed the sounds down to the riverwalk, where they found the injured woman clinging to the side of the wall.

One of the dog-walkers wrapped her dog’s leash around the woman to help her hold on, while the other called 911. A nearby couple engaged and the group tried, unsuccessfully, to pull the woman to safety.

A Pittsburgh Police officer soon arrived and was able to pull the woman from the water. Neither the victim, the good Samaritans nor the police officer was immediately identified.

The victim had suffered a severely broken ankle during the fall and was transported to a hospital.