Bridge jumpers remove panel

A steel panel from the Huntly rail bridge fence has been removed.

The panel blocked access to the rail tracks – a popular spot for jumping into the Waikato River.

Whoever vandalised the fence is probably too young to remember the last death, resident Kellee Te Wara said.

‘‘Everyone’s had a jump off the bridge,’’ Te Wara said. ‘‘But more recently, there’s been an awareness about how dangerous it is.’’

In 2012, a 13-year-old boy drowned after jumping off the

10-metre-high bridge and landing on a friend, who had jumped before him.

The schoolteacher heard about the vandalism on February 24 from her pupils, so went for a walk to see for herself.

‘‘The kids in my class walk across it every day.

‘‘I put a message up on Facebook to let parents know who might have kids walking over it.’’

Te Wara alerted Waikato District Council on February 26 and was told it would be dealt with immediately.

In the meantime, she won’t let her own children use the walkway. ‘‘Not with a big, gaping hole. ‘‘But the schoolkids use it and it’s the main path from Huntly West to town.’’

After the 13-year-old died in

2012, the fence was erected and signs put up.

But on a hot day, you’re not going to stop the college kids from jumping, Te Wara said.

Te Wara would like to see council rebuild the entire walkway.

Council has ordered a replacement steel panel and in the meantime erected safety mesh to cover the hole.

A panel is being manufactured, Waikato District Council spokesman Gary Dela Rue said.

‘‘We expect the replacement steel panel to be erected early [this] week,’’ Dela Rue said.

Council put up safety mesh again on Thursday, as the first lot was torn down.

‘‘Last year, a panel was removed four times.’’