MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) –The latest trending viral video stunt called #coldwaterchallenge has landed two people in hot water.
Some of the videos are part of an online campaign to help a Wisconsin toddler suffering from Leukemia. Now, the videos are being posted without a fundraising connection.
One video made Wednesday evening triggered a massive response from law enforcement and fire. The incident happened at 8:35 p.m. on the 610 West River Road Bridge in Brooklyn Park.
“Several people called 911 after seeing a man jump off the bridge into the Mississippi River,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek.
The 911 calls launched a response from the Sheriff’s Office Water Patrol, Brooklyn Park Police, the DNR, the Minnesota State Patrol helicopter and fire departments from three neighboring cities.
After an investigation, detectives determined it was a stunt. A man wearing a life jacket jumped into the river and swam to shore.
The jumpers then posted the video on a social media site Instagram to raise money for a charity.
“Look, this is Minnesota. It’s not even Memorial Day yet,” said Stanek. “Hypothermia sets in fairly quickly, and second the Mississippi River … that water is moving extremely fast due to the recent winter melt and run off.”
Stanek says the two jumpers put the lives of emergency responders at risk.
Now, the two could face possible charges.
