Teenager Falls 50 Feet in Queensboro Bridge During TikTok Stunt, Needs Rescue

More than 75 rescuers worked for 3 hours to save a 16-year-old boy. He fell 50 feet inside the Queensboro Bridge, a height equal to a five-story building.
By Newsroom | Public Safety, New York City |

A 16-year-old boy fell about 50 feet into a deep hole inside the Queensboro Bridge in New York City after trying a dangerous stunt for social media. This event on Monday evening, February 17, 2026, led to a large rescue effort. Fire and medical teams worked for hours to get the teenager out of the narrow space. He was taken to a hospital, where doctors said he was in serious but steady condition. The incident has drawn attention to the dangers of such actions.

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Event Details

On Monday night, February 17, 2026, at about 9 p.m., emergency teams got a call about a person stuck in the Queensboro Bridge. A 16-year-old boy from Lynbrook, Long Island, had climbed down a ladder into a shaft within the bridge's lower part. Officials said he fell around five stories, or 50 feet, while trying to record a video for TikTok. He was stuck inside the narrow passage for about three hours.

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FDNY Lt. Christopher Gaulrapp said the boy became trapped after falling.FDNY Deputy Chief Nicholas Corrado said the rescue was a "confined space operation, which is a very difficult, time-consuming, man power-intensive operation."

More than 75 firefighters and medical workers, including FDNY's Rescue 1 team, came to help. They used ropes to pull the boy out of the bridge's main support area. The teen was found to be suffering from hypothermia. He was then taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell. Police plan to speak with the boy when he gets better. It is not clear if he will face any charges.

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A 16-year-old fell 50 feet inside Queensboro Bridge during a TikTok stunt, leading to a major rescue effort.The teen is in critical but stable condition at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell.

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The Rescue Operation

The rescue of the teenager was a big and hard job.

  • Over 75 members of the Fire Department of New York (FDNY) and EMS teams were at the scene.

  • FDNY’s Rescue 1 group also took part.

  • Teams worked on the Manhattan-bound side of the bridge.

  • The work was called a "confined space operation" because the area was small and closed.

  • Responders used ropes to lift the boy out of the deep hole.

  • The rescue took about three hours.

Circumstances of the Fall

The teenager went into the bridge structure with a clear goal.

  • He admitted to officials that he wanted to record his stunt for TikTok.

  • He climbed down a ladder to get into the shaft.

  • Reports say he lost his footing and fell about 50 feet.

  • Police sources stated the boy told them he was with friends on the bridge, but his friends left after he fell.

  • No one else was at the scene when police and fire teams arrived.

  • Footage on social media pages linked to the boy and his friends reportedly showed young people quickly leaving the area after the fall.

Medical Condition and Care

After being pulled from the bridge, the teen needed quick medical help.

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  • He was suffering from hypothermia, meaning his body temperature was too low.

  • Medics took him to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell.

  • There, he was listed in critical but stable condition. Doctors said his state was guarded while tests and checks continued.

A different early news report said the boy was taken to Staten Island University Hospital and died. However, all other reports from various news sources state he was taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell and was in critical but stable condition. This suggests an inconsistency in one initial report.

Questions of Responsibility

The events raise certain questions about future actions.

  • The New York Police Department (NYPD) intends to speak with the teenager once he is well enough.

  • It is not yet known if the boy will face any legal charges for being in the bridge structure or for the incident itself.

  • Could there be questions about the actions of the friends reportedly with him?

Conclusion

A 16-year-old boy fell 50 feet inside the Queensboro Bridge while trying a stunt for TikTok. This led to a large rescue operation by over 75 emergency workers. The teen was saved after being stuck for about three hours and was taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell in serious but steady condition. Police will question him once he recovers. The situation shows the real risks of dangerous social media activities.

Used Sources and Context

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What happened to the teenager inside the Queensboro Bridge on February 17, 2026?
A 16-year-old boy fell about 50 feet into a deep hole inside the Queensboro Bridge. This happened on Monday evening, February 17, 2026, while he was trying to record a video for TikTok. He was stuck for about three hours before a large rescue team saved him.
Q: Why did the 16-year-old boy fall inside the Queensboro Bridge?
The teenager admitted to officials that he was trying to record a video for TikTok. He climbed down a ladder into a shaft within the bridge's lower part but lost his footing. This caused him to fall around 50 feet, or about five stories.
Q: How was the teenager rescued from the Queensboro Bridge shaft?
Over 75 firefighters and medical workers, including FDNY's Rescue 1 team, worked for about three hours. They used ropes to pull the boy out of the narrow space. The rescue was called a "confined space operation" due to the small area.
Q: What is the medical condition of the teenager after falling in the Queensboro Bridge?
After being rescued, the teenager was suffering from hypothermia, meaning his body was too cold. He was taken to New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell. Doctors there said he is in serious but stable condition.
Q: Will the teenager face charges after falling in the Queensboro Bridge during a TikTok stunt?
The New York Police Department (NYPD) plans to talk to the teenager once he is well enough. It is not yet clear if he will face any legal charges for being in the bridge structure or for the incident. His friends, who were reportedly with him, left the scene before rescuers arrived.