Schoolgirls' river rescue release II
Hamilton Police investigating what caused a woman's mobility scooter to leave a walkway and plunge 20m into the Waikato River have located the injured woman's immediate family.
City Area Commander, Inspector Greg Nicholls, said initial indications on what occurred are that several people, both members of the public and of the emergency services, had performed commendably.
"We understand a group of Sacred Heart Girls' College students, assisted by some unknown males entered the water and kept the 58-year-old woman's head above the surface before emergency services arrived.
"Then a number of emergency service staff went into the river to rescue the woman and recover the scooter. While the woman's wellbeing is being addressed by Waikato Hospital staff we are currently working to identify all those involved."
The mobility scooter has been removed to the Hamilton Central Police Station where it will be the subject of an examination tomorrow.
Mr Nicholls said that depending on what the findings of resulting interviews are, there are a number of avenues available in relation to official recognition for the various parties actions.
"We have been in contact with the school and the Ministry of Education in relation to this and at this stage I would like to formally acknowledge the efforts of all those involved.
"It is reassuring that people still have a strong sense of community and when they see someone in trouble they step up to the mark and in this case, prevented a tragedy from occurring."
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