Australia: British backpacker missing after Brisbane bridge jump

Fears are growing for a British backpacker who took a running jump off a bridge into a river in Australia "for a bit of fun" with friends.

An intensive search of the Brisbane River, which included a helicopter with infrared equipment, failed to find the 30-year-old tourist, who has been missing since Sunday night.

Police said the man was the first of four friends who had planned to jump from the William Jolly Bridge in Brisbane's central business district.

The friends scoured the water for him and contacted emergency services.

Queensland Police have been in contact with the parents of the missing man, who has relatives in Brisbane, and added: "We will continue our search until we find him."

The department reminded the public of the dangers of jumping off bridges.

Mr Cryer said: "It is tragic and really unfortunate. Obviously jumping off a bridge into a river is a really silly thing to do and we would warn against it."