A police officer set aside thoughts for his own safety when he dived into a thermal hot pool in Rotorua to rescue an alleged car thief on the run.
Two police dog handlers gave chase after the man was allegedly caught stealing cars in the central city.
Bay of Plenty police district commander Superintendent Glenn Dunbier said the police dog tracked the man to the Sulphur Flats area near the Polynesian Pools, where he was trying to hide by completely immersing himself in a hot pool.
The man realised his ruse was up and got out of the pool, and was arrested and handcuffed by the officers.
But as the man was being walked back to the police car, he took off suddenly and dived into another thermal pool.