Cuttack, Aug 20: A youth took up a challenge from his friend and jumped into the waters of the Mahanadi river from the Munduli bridge in Cuttack district on Wednesday afternoon, but was rescued by the fire brigade from Dhabaleswar Ireland.

The rescued youth, Ratiranjan Muduli of Nuabandha village under Athagarh police limits, had dared his friend to jump into the river with whom he had come to kill time on the bridge, said a fire official.

Ratiranjan is a good swimmer and managed to stay afloat in the strong current for around three kms till out team reached him to rescue, the officer added.

Some fishermen spotted him struggling with the current and informed the Barang fire office. By the time fire personnel reached the Munduli bridge, he had reached the Dhabaleswar Ireland but had lost his courage to swim to the river bank.

A team of fire personnel rescued him from the Ireland and handed over to his family members.