New Zealand: Hikers fall 26ft into a river after bridge collapses

Four hikers had a lucky escape after a bridge they were crossing in New Zealand collapsed and sent them plunging 26ft in to the river. They were walking In Te Urewera National Park when the incident happened. It was caught on camera by one of the hikers' helmet camera and shows them struggling with heavy backbacks in the water, before making sure everyone was all right. Fortunately nobody was seriously injured and they all lived to tell the tale.

Stuff.co.nz reported that the bridge's two suspension cables gave way while the foursome crossed. Authorities blamed a rare manufacturing defect for the incident.

One of the hikers, Effie-Belle wrote of the experience on French travel blog Rolandes Internationales: "Arriving mid-walk we hear a muffled sound and before having the time to wonder what it is, I am projected into the emptiness, fatally accepting what will follow."

"Once the shock of the water sinks in, I gently get to the surface, I note that nothing is broken and look around me, searching for everyone. I see Enzo on the surface – it's a relief. Then I see Adrien a little further, astonished like all of us."