Hukou Waterfall, Shaanxi Province, northwest China - Oct 5, 2017
1. Footage of man falling into waterfall

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2. Man falling into waterfall

3. Tourists gathered alongside edge of waterfall after man jumped
4. Man being carried away
5. Tourist showing captured cellphone footage of man crossing fence, jumping

FILE: Yellow River, China - Date Unknown
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6. Various of aerial of river rapids
7. Various of tourists by waterfall

A 28-year-old man survived a fall into the Hukou Waterfall tourist site in northwest China's Shaanxi Province on Thursday, but suffered back injuries during the bizarre incident.

Footage filmed by tourists showed the male visitor appear to suddenly climb over a perimeter fence and jump into the powerful waterfall, shocking the many hundreds of onlookers who had come to visit the iconic scenic spot on the Yellow River during China's week-long National Day holiday.

The man reportedly landed on a rock just 20 centimeters away from the onrushing stream, and thus avoided being swept away by the immense rapids. He was rescued and taken to safety 20 minutes later by police and staff at the site, along with help from fellow tourists, before being immediately sent to a local hospital.

Medical staff say the man suffered lumbar and thoracic spine fractures during the fall, and he has now been sent to a larger hospital to undergo surgery.

The injured man's family arrived at the hospital overnight, and confirmed that his injuries are not life-threatening. According to family members, the man works in the central Chinese city of Wuhan, and was traveling alone to the Hukou Waterfall during the National Day holiday. They described him as an outgoing personality who enjoys traveling alone, and say he has never previously exhibited signs of such unusual behavior.