Rescued NSW burglary suspect in hospital

An alleged burglar is expected to spend the night in hospital after jumping into a river on the NSW mid-north coast and having to be rescued by the two officers chasing him.

Police were called to an East Kempsey unit just after 11pm on Sunday following reports an armed man was trying to break in, however the 28-year-old fled the scene, police said.

The man was later spotted holding onto a pylon in the Macleay River and yelling for help before sinking into the water.

He was rescued by the two officers and transported to Port Macquarie Hospital and placed in an induced coma under police guard.

He was in a serious but stable condition on Monday night.