A suicidal man in Canterbury may have been saved by an American internet forum moderator.
The man posted on the forum, saying he was feeling down and asking what might happen if he took a quantity of pills, police magazine Ten One reported.
Concerned by the message, the moderator searched the internet for a New Zealand police contact, finding an email address on a press release relating to the June shooting of Shayne Sime in Christchurch.
The man had registered on the forum using a Tauranga address but police discovered he was living in Canterbury.
Southern police communications (SouthComms) team leader Julie Brown phoned to check on him, and said he sounded relieved to hear from someone.
"He confirmed that he felt like he had run out of choices and needed help to manage his situation."
Police visited the man's house and took him to a health provider who could offer some help.
SouthComms then emailed the moderator to say thanks and let him know the man was safe. "This was a rare opportunity ... to reach halfway around the world to try to help someone," the moderator told the magazine. SouthComms manager Inspector Kieren Kortegast said the incident showed how small the world had become. "This was a truly international and national event. If help is required we have the ability and technology to advance inquiries throughout the world and respond."
NZPA