Moment NYPD and Good Samaritan haul woman, 19, back to safety after spotting her clinging to handrail on New York riverbank

A compassionate stranger and the everyday heroism of New York police officers combined to save the life of a distraught young woman who tried to throw herself into the city’s East River.

Dramatic body camera video recorded the three officers clinging for their lives to the woman’s wrists as she dangled above the icy water on Sunday.

A good Samaritan spotted the 19-year-old looking upset as she sat on a railing with her feet dangling over the edge just after 11am.

He alerted the nearest police officers who were monitoring the New York Half Marathon on Sunday and they raced to the scene in time to see the woman duck to the side.

Bronx police officer Jonathan Mazza began talking to her and grabbed her wrist as she tried to drop into the fast-moving current below.

“Miss, we’re not going to let you go, we’re going to get you the help you need, okay? He told him.

A fellow police officer radioed Harbor Police as the woman screamed to be let go and Mazza tried to maintain his grip through the narrow gap at the bottom of the metal fence near the Manhattan Bridge.

Officer Crisbel Lopez jumped next to his Bronx colleague and tried to grab the woman’s other wrist.

“Don’t do this, give me your hand, give me your hand,” she told him.

‘Do not go. No, you’re good, you’re good.

With the minutes ticking away and no sign of reinforcements, Mazza began to wonder if he should put his lifeguard training to use in the deadly waters below.

“I thought about my family and my loved ones, and I knew that she was going through something, and that what she was going through wasn’t worth doing what she was doing,” he said .

“But I was there to be with her and help her as much as I could.”

“They both had one hand and it was hanging off the ledge and they held it for a good two to three minutes before the port came close to the ledge,” said Officer Jessette Adorno.

“Come on guys, I’m losing her,” Mazza said as the rescue boat finally came into view.

“I got it, they just need to get here,” a colleague replied.

The officers, desperately relieved, were able to relinquish their grip as the boat stopped beneath the teenager and her crew carried her on board.

Mazza noticed concerned text messages and missed calls on the woman’s phone and began calling the numbers for more information.

He told ABC News on Tuesday that he spoke to a concerned family member who assured him the young woman was responsive and improving.

The body camera footage, posted on police social media pages, has earned numerous accolades for the brave officers who saved the woman’s life.

“NYPD cops never fail to give their all when people need it most,” wrote former New York Police Commissioner Bill Bratton.

“Congratulations to these extraordinary officers for their quick thinking and teamwork.”

“Wow, it was a close game to say the least,” added William Serrano.

“You literally saved his life.”