By KELLY BLANCHARD
A dramatic rescue took place last night in Taupo after a teenager got sucked up by turbulent waters of the control gate bridge over the Waikato River.
The 18-year-old spent a cold three-and-a-half hours perched on a ledge on a bridge support of the control gate over
the river before he was rescued just before 11pm.
The incident began around 7.15pm when he and three friends were kayaking on the river below the bridge.
The teenager got too close to the turbulent waters coming through the gates and was sucked up under the bridge itself.
The youth managed to cling to the pillar.
A woman walking her dog on the nearby reserve saw the teenager in trouble and called police about 8pm.
The control gates were closed to reduce the river flow so the teenager could be rescued.
A rescue team including fire, police, Taupo harbourmaster, Mighty River Power, friends of the teenager and onlookers managed to get a line to the youth and secure him with a rescue harness. The teenager then leapt from his perch and after a quick dip in the river was hauled up onto the bridge by a team pulling on the ropes.
The Lion Foundation Rescue Helicopter hovered over the river with its "night sun" light to illuminate the rescue. The man was treated at the scene by St John paramedics for mild hypothermia but was otherwise unhurt.
Sergeant Dave Frazer of the Taupo police said the rescue was particularly difficult because the youth was a long way up stream beneath the bridge.
