nder the bridge, on Old Fulton Street, people watched from the sidewalk, and others pulled over their cars and got out to watch. For several minutes, neither the officers nor the man changed position. Then, suddenly, the man either began to lose his grip or tried to wrench free of the officers.

On Old Fulton Street, there were shouts of “Oh, my God!” “No!” and “Pull him back!” As the man struggled, lurching backward, other officers raced up to the railing. Slowly, though, the officers hauled him up and over the railing.

Cheers rose from the bridge and Old Fulton Street. Within minutes, the emergency vehicles had left and traffic flowed again on a warm holiday weekend. A few pedestrians looked at photographs on each other’s cellphones and cameras before moving on.

It was not immediately known where the man was taken after the rescue.