New Year divers take the plunge in Rome's Tiber River

In true Roman tradition, four Italian divers jumped into the Italian capital's Tiber river on Saturday to welcome the New Year. One of the divers present was Maurizio Palmulli, 68, who plunged into the water for the 34th year in a row, as crowds of bystanders watched.

The event is a New Year tradition dating back to 1946, when an unemployed lifeguard who was trying to find work as a stunt man leapt into the river from the Cavour Bridge to advertise his skills. Since then, it has become an annual event, with hundreds gathering to watch the divers jump off the bridge.