Police applicant averts tragedy

A police force applicant saved a woman from jumping off a bridge last night, showing he has what it takes to be a police officer, Hamilton police say.

The 26-year-old was driving home from work about 10.25pm when he saw a woman standing the Boundary Rd bridge railing with a teddy bear under her arm, looking like she was going to jump.

The man stopped his car and ran to the railing, wrapping his arms around the woman to stop her jumping.

Another driver called police.

Senior Sergeant Karl Thornton said the woman was known to police and it was likely that had she seen a patrol car approaching she would have jumped.

"There's no doubt in the minds of the responding staff members that this man's actions were directly responsible in preventing a tragedy and we will be looking at the appropriate way of recognising his man's actions."

- NZPA