A trespasser was thrown "several metres into the air" after attempting to "kiss" a robust and forbidden water fountain in Geneva.

The unnamed man, stated to be in his 20s, clambered over the protection obstacles of the Jet d'Eau at round 8pm on Monday - dubbed one of many Swiss metropolis's most well-known landmarks which illuminates at night time.

He proceeded to put his face on the fountain, after which grabbed maintain of the water column, which in flip catapulted him into the sky, earlier than falling again onto the slab.

After choosing himself up, the person is reported to have jumped into the Lake Geneva, however the ordeal sparked concern from witnesses who raised the alarm.

The fountain omits 500 litres of water a second, the operator says, which emerges at a pace of 124mph. The Jet d'Eau has been a vacationer attraction in Geneva for greater than 130 years and is among the tallest on the earth.

One witness stated: "The officers came to ask the Jet d'Eau to be cut off as a matter of urgency so that they could go and get him."

"They rescued him and hoisted him into the boat," stated Aline Dard, spokeswoman for the Geneva police.

He was taken care of by an ambulance, and was taken to Geneva University Hospitals. His present state of well being just isn't identified.

SIG have introduced that they are going to be lodging a grievance, as they all the time do within the occasion of a breach of the safety perimeter.

Additional reporting by Maria Ortega