Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS A police officer and firefighter lead the young man they rescued from under the Temple Street footbridge to an awaiting ambulance for evaluation. The man, who has special needs and is non-verbal, didn't appear to suffer any injuries in the incident. He was coaxed to safety by several officers who know him and are aware he is non-verbal. (Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS)

NASHUA – A lengthy ordeal Sunday involving the rescue of a non-verbal young man from beneath a large steel beam under the Temple Street footbridge eventually ended the way everyone hoped it would.

It all began late Sunday morning, when firefighters, police and medical personnel were called to an area behind the Nashua Senior Activities Center, 70 Temple St., for a report of what appeared to be a person stuck underneath the Temple Street footbridge.

The person was reported to be under the Temple Street end of the footbridge, which parallels the railroad bridge that spans the Nashua River and connects Temple and Canal streets.

As it turned out, police recognized the young man, who they know has special needs and is non-verbal, according to reports.

Based on that knowledge, police knew how best to communicate with the young man, which they did throughout the ordeal.

Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS Using a network of ropes, police officers and firefighters begin hoisting a young man from his precarious perch under the Temple Street footbridge Sunday. The man, who has special needs and is non-verbal, was coaxed to safety by officers who are familiar with him. (Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS)

Meanwhile, firefighters put to work their technical rescue skills, creating a network of ropes and preparing safety harnesses in order to allow a crew of officers and firefighters to reach the young man and ease him to safety.

It played out as planned, and once the young man was back on solid ground, he was escorted to an ambulance for evaluation, given the length of time he spent in the cold.

He had no apparent injuries, but was transported to a local hospital as a precaution, according to reports.

Telegraph contributor Jeffrey Hastings provided material for this story.

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.

Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS A Nashua police officer inches her way along the rock wall on the shore of the Nashua River after helping to put in place a series of ropes that allowed police and firefighters to rescue a young man with special needs from under the Temple Street footbridge Sunday. (Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS)

Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS Police officers and firefighters secure a series of ropes along the edge of the Nashua River near the Temple Street end of the footbridge on Sunday in order to rescue a young man with special needs who was hiding under a steel beam. (Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS)