Waterfall diver relishes floods

While thousands of people are fleeing devastating floods in China, expert diver Di Huanran is seeking them out.

Di, 51, holds the Guinness world record for diving from waterfalls after he plunged nearly 75ft down into a fast-flowing river.

Now Di is touring parts of flooded north east China looking for new challenges.

"The rain has been so heavy everything has been changed so there might be some good record-breaking opportunities out there," he explained.

Di gave up his job as a chauffeur and now waterfall dives full time to earn his keep. He works as a professional diver at Jingpo Lake park staging regular diving performances for onlookers.

"It is the best feeling in the world to jump from cliffs and waterfalls and better still I get paid for it."

He said: "I have done thousands of dives since my first dive but I'll never forget that first dive.

"I was surprised to find the waterfall was as comfortable as a natural shower and not at all as dangerous as it was rumoured, nothing bad happened, but I felt so good.

"From that moment there has been no stopping me. I always wanted to be a record breaker."

Di makes more than 100 dives annually and continues to push his limits, he says. His reason: "Somebody has to do it."