Coast Guard searches for ferry jumper

NEW YORK — The search continues on Friday for a person who jumped off a ferry near Governor's Island.

A number of people reported seeing a person jump off the Spirit of America ferry around 10:15 p.m. as it cruised near lower Manhattan.

Witnesses on board the ferry told ABC7 Eyewitness News the jumper was a man who leaped when the boat was north of the Statue of Liberty.

The ferry crew used their own boat to locate the person before the Coast Guard, NYPD and FDNY Marine Units, and an NYPD Aviation Unit picked up the search.

The Spirit of America is operated by the Staten Island Ferry, which begins and ends its trips from Staten Island.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.