Yesterday at high noon, in freezing temperatures, three divers plunged into the Tiber River from a height of more than 50 feet.
The event is a New Year tradition dating back to 1946, when a stuntman named Mr. OK who was trying to find work in the film industry leapt into the water from Ponte Cavour. Since then it has caught on as an annual event.
“I hope you all have a wonderful New Year,” said one of the divers, addressing onlookers in Italian. He dedicated his plunge to world peace.”Lets stop all these wars. Everyone should come down to the river with me instead of killing each other – Come On!”
Italy’s Corriere della Sera said on its Web site that two of the men were aged 40 and the other 56. Two were Italian and the third born in Syria, the report said.
