Italians plunged into the freezing waters of Rome's River Tiber on Thursday (January 1), as they welcomed the New Year with a traditional jump from Cavour Bridge.

The wintry temperatures did not discourage divers Simone Carabella, Valerio Schirra and Marco Fois, who were cheered on by the crowd gathered on the riverbanks to watch the event.

The annual Tiber Dive has been celebrated on New Year's Day since 1946. This year, three unscheduled participants joined the official divers in jumping off the bridge in the centre of the Italian capital.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

1. PEOPLE GATHERING ON CAVOUR BRIDGE

2. PEOPLE SITTING IN ROWING BOAT

3. PEOPLE GATHERING ON BRIDGE, INCLUDING DIVER, SIMONE CARABELLA, AND VETERAN DIVER, MAURIZIO PALMULLI

4. PEOPLE WATCHING

5. DIVER, SIMONE CARABELLA, STANDING ON BRIDGE AND URGING CROWD

6. PEOPLE WATCHING

7. CARABELLA PLUNGING INTO RIVER AND SWIMMING TO FIREFIGHTER BOAT

8. PEOPLE WATCHING AND FILMING

9. DIVER, VALERIO SCHIRRA, PLUNGING INTO RIVER AND SWIMMING TO FIREFIGHTER BOAT

10. PEOPLE WATCHING

11. SCHIRRA STANDING ON FIREFIGHTER BOAT

12. DIVER, MARCO FOIS, PLUNGING INTO RIVER AND SWIMMING TO FIREFIGHTER BOAT

13. PEOPLE WATCHING

14. FOIS GREETING CROWD

15. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE DIVING

16. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WATCHING