Hamilton Police are assessing how best to recognise the actions of an elderly female pedestrian who saved a man from falling from a bridge over the Waikato River while more able bodied motorists drove by.
Acting Senior Sergeant Jason McKay said the woman, believed to be aged in her seventies, was walking with two friends when she noticed a man sitting on the opposite ledge of the Claudelands Bridge who appeared in a distressed state.
"Crossing the road the woman spoke to the man who told her he didn't want to live, it has since transpired that he was coming down after taking methamphetamine.
"The man has then slipped or tried to jump into the river but the woman has grabbed hold of him and struggled to hold him while motorists have driven past. Fortunately two men have seen her predicament and come to her aid, one flagging down a Police car."
Mr McKay said when he spoke to the men who helped the woman they were adamant she deserved some form of formal recognition.
"We'll be discussing just what the best form of recognition would be but at this time we certainly want to state her actions were of the highest calibre."
Note for media; the staff involved in this morning's incident are not currently on duty.
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