British backpacker missing after Australian bridge jump

A British man is missing after leaping into a river off a bridge in Australia “for a bit of fun”.

The 30-year-old UK national jumped from the William Jolly Bridge in Brisbane shortly after 10pm local time on Sunday night, Queensland police said.

He was said to have been drinking at a nearby backpackers hostel, and was apparently one of four friends planning the stunt. He was the only one to make the 10-metre leap into the Brisbane River.

“They had agreed between themselves that they were going to jump off the bridge for a bit of fun and to cool down,” police inspector Sean Cryer said.

“The young man in question – the 30-year-old British national – jumped off the bridge first.

“The other three fellows said he took a running jump from three or four metres away, jumped over the rail, went under the water ... he came back up again for a few seconds, rolled on his side and went back under the water and he hasn’t been seen since.”

On Monday morning water-based and aerial searches were continuing.

In a tweet Queensland Police quoted the officer as saying: "We will continue our search until we find him."

Another post read: "Police are warning against people from engaging in high risk activity like jumping off bridges. It's an offence & you can face Court."

The man’s family in the UK is said to have been informed.