The emergency services were called to an incident on Ouse Bridge early this morning.
A woman had climbed over the bridge and was in a vulnerable position.
Police officers went to the scene at about 5.22am, along with fire crews from York, Acomb and Huntington, and the fire rescue boat in the water.
A spokesperson for North Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service said: “Crews stood by whilst police officers assisted in bringing the female off the bridge.
“The female was left in the care of police officers.”
A witness told YorkMix: “Police talked to her for about 45 minutes and eventually convinced her to offer her hand and promptly pulled her to safety.
“Fire, police and fire river rescue all in attendance – a good job all round.”
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