TWO police officers were caught in the swollen Queanbeyan River last night as they tried to rescue a man who jumped off Queens Bridge into the floodwater.
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Officers were called to the scene at 11.20pm after reports of a 43-year-old man on the bridge threatening self-harm.
The river was experience a moderate level flood at the time.
As police arrived the man threatened to jump from the bridge.
Officers called for him to return to safety but the man jumped into the river.
He was swept downstream and additional police were called in to help the search effort.
He was spotted a short time later towards the Morisset Street low-level bridge.
Two police entered the river as the man was swept towards them.
One constable was caught in a submerged fence but was able to free himself.
His colleague tried to reach the man but she was also swept downstream. The senior constable was able to grab and hold on to a tree.
The man was found clinging to a tree about 500 metres downstream.
Queanbeyan SES volunteers used a flood rescue boat collect him and return him to police on the river bank.
SES also recovered the senior constable from the river.
The 43-year-old man was taken to Queanbeyan Hospital for assessment.
