DRIVERS in the rush-hour yesterday watched in horror as a man jumped to his death from Newport's George Street Bridge.

The man, who has not been named by police but was in his thirties, jumped off the bridge into the murky waters of the River Usk at 5.30pm.

Fire officers in a rescue boat were sent to the scene immediately, but when the boat reached the man, he was found to be already dead.

His body was eventually recovered from the east bank of the river by fire officers. Police are not treating the incident as suspicious.

The Gwent coroner, Mr David Bowen, has been informed of the death and a post-mortem examination is expected to be conducted today.

A spokeswoman for the South Wales Fire Service said: "We were called to an incident at 5.32pm.

"We had in attendance two boats, one rescue tender and two fire appliances. A fire crew removed one casualty from the river."

The Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) had been scrambled to the scene but were stood down.

Inspector Mike Cotterell of Gwent Police said: "We had a report that someone had jumped off the George Street Bridge.

"The person was recovered by the fire service but unfortunately he was dead and his body was taken to the Royal Gwent Hospital.

"We do not believe there is anything suspicious about this incident but inquiries are ongoing and if there were any witnesses they are asked to contact Newport central police station on 01633 244999."

The tragedy comes just weeks after another man leaped from Newport Town Bridge into the River Usk.

Commuters watched as the man jumped after making the sign of the cross on February 28.

Police were probing whether he was Turkish national Cemal Kilic, 24, who had only moved to Newport a week before from the Isle of Man to work in Yummies Kebab Burger in Upper Dock Street.

He went missing on only his fifth day in the job.

*PICTURED: Emergency service workers had to contend with muddy conditions as they brought the body of the man out of the river.