Woman who pushed friend off bridge pleads guilty

A woman in the US has pleaded guilty to pushing her friend off a bridge, causing her to suffer life-threatening injuries.

The prank – on August 7, 2018 – was filmed and uploaded to social media, where it quickly went viral.

On Monday, Taylor Smith, 19, pleaded guilty to charges of reckless endangerment over the near-fatal incident near Vancouver, in Washington State, reports ABC.

After being pushed from the 18-metre high bridge, the equivalent of three storeys, Jordan Holgerson landed on her stomach and suffered six broken ribs, a punctured lung and air bubbles in her chest.

According to court records, Smith “engaged in conduct which created a substantial risk of death and resulted in serious physical injury”.

Smith and Holgerson had gone swimming with a group of friends in Moulton Falls Regional Park.

After climbing the bridge in the popular swimming area, Smith pushed Holgerson who had supposedly intended to jump.

Footage from the 10-second video shows Holgerson hesitating to jump as she stands on the open side of the bridge railing.

A male voice in the background can be heard saying, “Well, she’s saying no!” before she is pushed and plunges into the river on her stomach.

The video has since been taken down.

Smith, who spoke to Good Morning America when the video first went viral, said Holgerson had wanted to jump but was too scared.

“She had asked me to give her a push and I didn’t think about the consequences - I thought she would be fine.”

Holgerson's mother, Genelle Holgerson, attended Monday’s hearing and said her daughter was still having physical therapy for an injured shoulder and being treated for anxiety.

In Washington, charges of reckless endangerment are classified as a gross misdemeanour, with the maximum penalty of up to one year in jail and a $7000 AUD fine.

Smith will be sentenced next week, with the prosecution recommending a sentence with no jail time.