Oroville Fire Department Rescues Man Who Jumped Off Bridge

OROVILLE, Calif. -- A man that authorities had contacted earlier Monday at his residence, later plunged into the Feather River from the green bridge near the Fish Hatchery.

The man was identified as 23-year-old Rich Hildebrand. He was seriously hurt and was taken by helicopter to Enloe Medical Center in Chico.

Police Sgt. John Sanzone said later that investigators were trying to determine if the man jumped to injure himself, or if it was a misguided recreational jump off the bridge.

The incident happened around 2:15 p.m.

Several people were swimming below the bridge. Oroville Fire Chief Charles Hurley said a group of young men playing in the water heard something go "smack."

When the group found Hildebrand, he was unconscious.

Sanzone said the witnesses did not see the man hit the water, but they saw him in mid-flight and heard the sound when he hit.

"He was going back-first, almost laying flat," Sanzone said.

Hildebrand landed on his back at about the middle point of the bridge, in a shallow area where large, flat rocks were about five or six feet below the surface.

Someone called 9-1-1. Sanzone said when he and another officer arrived, they instructed the people near Hildebrand to immobilize him until a firefighter could swim to his aid.

Rescuers from Oroville Fire Department got Hildebrand to shore and into an ambulance, but he was eventually taken to Enloe by helicopter, due to an apparent spine injury. He was reportedly in stable condition.

Hildebrand suffered neck, back, and abdominal injuries, Hurley said.

Earlier in the day, fire and police authorities had contact with Hildebrand at his residence. At the time, he expressed a desire to hurt himself, Hurley said.

Sanzone said Hildebrand was evaluated then, but he didn't meet the criteria for a 51-50 mental health hold and authorities determined he was not a danger to himself or others.

As for the afternoon incident, Hurley said he cannot emphasize enough that people should not be jumping off the bridge.

"The rocks are deep enough that you can't see them from the bridge, and shallow enough that if you jump, you're going to end up hitting rocks," he said. "The water is running faster, deeper and colder, and it's very dangerous."

Monday's incident was the fourth rescue on the Feather River in the last two weeks, he added.

"We want people to have a good time, but be aware of the dangers," Hurley said.