A man who lodged himself under a Hamilton bridge, sparking a two-hour rescue attempt and road closures in the central city, has made his own way to safety.
The man was taken into police custody and would be checked by ambulance.
Senior Sergeant Andrew Townsend, of Hamilton police, said police had identified the man and he was known to the city's shelter.
Police and firefighters were called to the Bridge St Bridge around midday, where a man was stuck underneath the bridge and abusing members of the public.
Senior Sergeant Pete van de Wetering said the man had gotten himself into a precarious position under the bridge.
"We are dealing with a vagrant who has got himself lodged under the bridge and is being quite abusive to the public."
The man is believed to be drunk or on drugs, he said.
"He is being unruly and offensive."
At one point, the man was seen to be hanging from the railings before moving backunder the bridge.
Firefighters were called to provide equipment used to reach the man.
Senior Sergeant Andrew Townsend said police had numerous calls from the public about midday reporting the man.
Police had been unable to properly communicate with the man as he was intoxicated, said Townsend.
"We suspect he has walked up along under the bridge."
There were concerns about the level of the river, which was currently low.
A police boat had been stationed in the river as a precaution.
Firefighters had abseiled up the bridge to within 10 metres of the man and would attempt to get him to safety.
Two officers had been stationed on top of Bridge St also.
Waikato Fire Service Area Commander Roy Breeze said it was likely an Advanced High Angle Rescue team had been called in to scale the bridge.
"They are highly trained and have the ability to use lines at any angle, which means they can go up or down."
They would abseil up the bridge and if possible attach a rescue harness to the man.
Once attached the easiest way would be to abseil down with the man to a boat on the river, said Breeze.
It would be more difficult to travel up and over onto Bridge St.
Hamilton resident Wikeepa Kokiri was intending to walk over Bridge St when he was told by police there were diversions in place.
"We got told we had to go back down to Claudelands."
He had decided to wait it out instead of walking the diversion, which would add an extra hour.
Kokiri was one of a crowd of people that had gathered to watch the man.
"They should really build something to stop people being able to get up."
Source: Stuff.co.nz
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