Sambalpur: A 69-year-old man fell into Mahanadi river from Chaunrapur bridge in Odisha's Sambalpur district today while he was clicking selfie with a mobile phone.

Fortunately, Fire Services personnel managed to rescue him from the water body near Samalei Temple ghat. The survivor has been identified as Surendra Mohan Mishra.

Initially, locals saw the person falling from the bridge. Apprehending that he jumped from the bridge into the river in a bid to end his life, they informed the local police and Fire Services personnel.

"My leg slipped while I was taking selfie on the bridge, following which I fell into the river. I had lost hope of surviving. I grabbed a bunch of grass and managed to stay afloat. Later, Fire Services personnel rescued me," he said.