Search for fleeing man who jumped in river

A search is underway for a man who leapt from a bridge into the Waikato River this morning while fleeing police.

Waikato police spokeswoman Kris McGehan told NZPA the man was believed to have just committed a burglary when he saw police and ran away.

"He started running and just kept on running, and we didn't really have time to pursue him as such," she said.

The man then leapt into the river near Cobham Bridge and was not seen to surface again.

Police officers and a boat are searching the river for the man.

The Westpac Air Ambulance was dispatched by police just after 10am but a 25-minute aerial search failed to locate the missing man.

- NZPA