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The Huntly rail bridge from which Zharian Watkins jumped - Source: ONE News -
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Police have scaled down the search for a teenager missing since jumping from a bridge into the Waikato River.
Emergency personnel and member of the public have been searching for 13-year-old Zharian Watkins who jumped off the bridge in Huntly when he was playing with friends on Friday afternoon.
About a dozen boys watched on from the bridge as Watkins' friend, Raekwon Morgan, jumped first. Witnesses say Zharian landed on Raekwon as he resurfaced. Raekwon needed six stitches to his head.
The police dive squad were called in to the search again yesterday to carry out an extensive sweep of the river assisted by Environment Waikato.
Police say they remain committed to locating Zharian and will continue to re-evaluate the situation.
The local community turned out in force to assist with the search.
Call for warning signs
The incident has reignited calls for safety signs at the popular swimming spot.
If confirmed, Zharian's will be the ninth death in 10 years as a result of jumping off the bridge and officials are calling for warning signs or even cameras on the bridge.
Sergeant Blair Donaldson of the Huntly police told ONE News that schoolchildren have frequently jumped from the bridge.
"They'll come from school, after working in those hot classrooms, and they'll go down and jump into the cool water," Donaldson said.
"We would love to see some warning signs, even cameras. The
family were asking for cameras up that way. Anything is better than
nothing."
Police are asking that no one jump from the bridge.
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