30 Dec 2017

Public help rescue man from river in Waikato

4:48 pm on 30 December 2017

A man has been rescued after falling from a bridge north of Taupō this afternoon.

The bridge where a man was pulled from the water with the help of the public.

The bridge where a man was pulled from the water with the help of the public. Photo: RNZ / William Ray

An eyewitness said the man was in the river near a control gates bridge, before a rope was thrown to him by passersby.

Police arrived and pulled him from the water.

They said they were called at 3pm today after reports from members of the public a man was under the rail/bars near a control gate, under the bridge at Wairakei.

"Members of the public assisted in rescuing what may have been an intoxicated man who appeared to be in his 40s, near the control gate bridge at Taupō," police said in a statement.

"The public assisted by throwing him ropes and pulling him up to safety."

Police said they were grateful to the people who assisted.