Thrill-seeker from NZ dies in US plunge

A Napier man died after jumping off a popular bridge with thrill-seekers near Lake Zoar, in the northeastern American state of Connecticut.

Nicholas Porter, 30, didn’t resurface last Saturday after a sixmetre jump from a steel-span bridge over a stream that emptied into Lake Zoar, Sergeant Brian Van Ness said.

Police and fire crews arrived just after 4pm and found Porter, unconscious, along the shore, the

Republican-American newspaper reported. Police said witnesses pulled him out before responders tried to resuscitate him, unsuccessfully.

Porter, who originally lived in Napier, was employed as a car-body technician at Fairfield Collision Center in Fairfield, a representative for the company confirmed to the

Republican-American.

The company said staff were shocked and saddened. The community has left flowers at the foot of the bridge.

A local told the Republican-American the bridge was popular with young thrill-seekers who often jumped into the shallow water

Speaking to Stuff, Steve Bingham said a local labelled the incident “an accident waiting to happen”. He also raised the possibility of a lawsuit resulting from the death, potentially involving the town of Southbury and bridge owner FirstLight Power.

A woman living nearby told the publisher the water under the bridge was especially shallow this summer due to low rainfall.

Porter’s death sparked a debate on a local Facebook page, with residents saying the area had been a problem for years with bridge jumping, littering and parking issues.