Police catch man jumping from burning building

A man leapt from the second floor of a burning building. Photo / Thinkstock

Two Hamilton police officers are being praised for catching a man who leapt from the second floor of a burning building.

Police were the first to arrive at the scene on Ulster St about 1.40am after a fire had broken out at the front of the dwelling, acting Senior Sergeant Dale Smith said.

"Our staff hear a man yelling for help from the second storey of the flat. With the fire breaking out in the front of the ground floor, the man had no way out from where he was in his upstairs bedroom," Mr Smith said.

"The two officers raced to the back of the building and persuaded the man to jump and they caught him, just as fire-fighters arrived."

Mr Smith said the man was taken to Waikato Hospital but discharged himself a short time later.

"The scene is currently under guard and a forensic examination will take place later today to establish if there any suspicious circumstances in relation to the fire.

"We're very happy that the matter was able to be resolved without the occupant of the flat being seriously injured or even worse."