Mathis Bridge Jumper Rescued by Authorities Wednesday Night

An unidentified man who jumped from the Thomas A. Mathis Bridge Wednesday night was rescued by authorities and taken to an area hospital, police said. 

Toms River police responded to the bridge for a report of a suspicious male near a vehicle in the emergency cut off just after 8 p.m. Wednesday, said Chief of Police Michael Mastronardy. 

When Sgt. Ron Sermarini approached the man, whose identity was not immediately released by police, he jumped from the bridge into the water, the chief said. 

Wearing a police ice suit, Cpl. Paul Burkhardt entered the water and a fire company boat and its crew pulled the man — now clinging to a piling for about 20 minutes — from the water, Mastronardy said. 

The man was transported by the Toms River First Aid Squad to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, Mastronardy said. Police did not release an update on his current condition.