Video: Fearing Dangerous Storm, Teen Jumps Out Of Skyride In Seaside Heights
SPRINGFIELD, N.J. (CBSNewYork) – A trip to the Jersey Shore left a teenager bruised and thankful.
The girl was stranded on an amusement ride high in the air as a violent storm approached. The teenager spoke to CBS 2's Jessica Schneider on Monday about her terrifying ride.
"Oh my! That was me. I'm like, 'I'm out, I'm out!'" Melanie Rossomando said.
Rossomando can laugh about it now. The leap has landed her more than 20,000 views on YouTube.
But this past weekend, it was fear and adrenaline that sent her flying off the Skyride in Seaside Heights.
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"The way my hair was blowing, the way my seat was rocking. The lightning was so close," Rossomando said.
The high school senior was celebrating her 17th birthday at the shore. She and her friend decided to get on one ride above the boardwalk to end the day.
But then a storm moved in and the ride stopped short. The girls, admittedly, panicked.
"I said, 'I'll jump if you jump with me.' And she said 'Okay.' And then right away she jumped and I wasn't ready for it," friend Herlide Joseph said.
"I really didn't think twice about it. I just jumped," Rossomando said.
The jump was all caught on tape, but what happened after wasn't. An off-duty EMT saw it all happen and he jumped into action.
"He took me under his wing. He brought me to the boardwalk. He stayed with me the whole time and thank God for him, because honestly if it wasn't for him, I don't know what I would have done," Rossomando said.
Joseph stayed on until the ride re-started. Rossomando was fine, experiencing just a sore arm, hip and neck. Her parents said they were grateful and proud of their daughter.
"That was her instinct with lightning all around her. We support that she did it. We're just glad she's okay," Pete Rossomando said.
She's okay, and gaining quite the following online.
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