A woman leaped off the central span of the Tappan Zee Bridge Saturday afternoon, setting off a widespread search-and-rescue operation.

Eyewitnesses say rescuers were on the scene minutes after the woman jumped off the bridge.

"They didn't want to walk down, they jumped onto the boat," says James Franklin, who saw the first responders running to the bridge.

The rescue effort began at around 1:15 p.m. with nearly 30 agencies, including the Coast Guard, police and firefighters, responding to the call. By 2:45 p.m., the Coast Guard called off the search without finding the woman.

However, Tarrytown Harbor Master Kevin Lustyik says there is a chance the woman survived the jump from the center of the bridge, which is about a 140-foot fall.

"Being there is a chance that we could make a recovery, we take up these resources willingly because there is a chance this person could be recovered," Lustyik says.