CLOSURE
The Narrows bridge spans the Waikato River, near Mystery Creek, Hamilton. It’s a bridge with a long way down to the dark, swirling waters below. ‘Back in the day’ thousands of mostly young people were attending the nearby Parachute Music Festival. A few people taking some time out from the crowds were jumping off the bridge, until a ‘jumper’ didn’t surface. Frantic friends and bystanders began looking for him. No sign of life as small whirlpools moved around in decreasing and increasing circles. A little while later, I got a phone call from a nearby resident who knew I had a kayak. “We’re now looking for a body, Steve. Can you help?” “Yep.” Within the hour I off loaded my kayak next to the bridge and began my search. Dreading bumping into him I kept on reassuring myself that finding him would bring closure to the man’s family. Heading downstream and watching where the current ebbed and flowed, something in some tree branches caught my eye. Nudging my kayak into t...