Authorities rescue man from Duluth's Blatnik Bridge

Authorities shut down the Blatnik Bridge in Duluth for about 90 minutes this morning to rescue a man who was apparently trying to jump off of it.

Using a rope rigging system, the Duluth firefighters lowered two state troopers down to where the man was perched in the framework that supports the bridge deck. The framework is about 125 feet above the water.

Assistant Fire Chief Erik Simonson said the troopers were able to coax the man into a harness. Firefighters then pulled all three back up to the bridge deck, he said.

Simonson said it appears the man intended to jump, and a passerby who saw the man called 911 at about 3 a.m. Police arrived and saw the man make his way down to the framework.

Simonson said no one was injured during the incident, but the bridge had to be closed while firefighters set up and used the rope rigging system.