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A groom tried to kill himself after seeing his "ugly" arranged marriage bride for the first time.

Kang Hu, 33, claimed bride Na Sung, 30, would be "bad for his image" after he walked out of the ceremony and threw himself in a nearby river.

The 33-year-old had stunned guests at the wedding in the city of Shiyan, in central China’s Hubei province, when he apologised to his bride before telling her she was "too ugly".

(Image: CEN)

Pal Chan Wang said: "It was a very awkward moment for everyone.

"The bride was devastated, her family were furious, his family were furious, and we his friends were embarrassed.

"Kang has very exact tastes and had been forced into this marriage."

The groom was spotted several hours later wandering along a river bank shortly before throwing himself in the water.

Passers-by called police who were able to rescue him.

(Image: CEN)

Qan Tsui, 25, who took photos of the rescue, said: "He was fully clothed and floating face down in the water.

"He was unconscious and I thought he was dead.

"When the police arrived one jumped in and dragged him ashore with the help of foremen who put a rope around his chest to pull him out before pumping his chest.

"They saved his life."

Kang was rushed to hospital where doctors said he was in a stable condition.

He later explained: "I feel bad about what happened but when I saw her she wasn’t what I had expected and I realised she would be bad for my image.

"My parents had arranged this and I couldn’t see any way out apart from suicide."