A young woman was rescued from the Waikato River early this morning.
Members of the public were praised by police for helping to save the teenager's life, after screams were heard coming from the river at River Rd, Fairfield, in Hamilton around 1am.
Police arrived and found a 17-year-old girl about 10 metres from shore, in "obvious distress", Inspector Tony Wakelin said.
An officer waded into the water and swam out to the teen as she was going under water.
He swam her back to the bank, and with help from other officers got her back on to dry land.
A team of firefighters stretchered her to an ambulance, Mr Wakelin said.
"At this point in time the circumstances of why or how she came to be in the water is not known," he said.
"However, it is clear that the actions of the member of public in calling us and the attending police staff have saved this young woman's life"."
She was taken to Waikato Hospital in a serious but stable condition.
