A man did a swan dive over the rails of the Staten Island Ferry on Thursday, but the harbor patrol pulled him out of the water, police said.

The unidentified man, described as "white" and in his 40s, put his arms out "like Superman" before diving overboard into New York Harbor around 1:20 p.m., the Staten Island Advance reported.

After he jumped, the Staten Island-bound ferry reversed course and a life preserver was thrown to him, the Advance said. The NYPD harbor patrol quickly arrived at the scene and pulled him from the water.

He was reportedly taken to Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn and reported in stable condition. Police said they are not sure why the man jumped but that it was "presumably an attempt to kill himself."

It seems shark sightings are dominating headlines on Long Island and researchers are on a quest to find out why more sharks are showing up in Long Island waters. NewsdayTV meteorologist Rich Von Ohlen discusses how to stay safe.  Credit: Newsday/A. J. Singh; Gary Licker

'Beneath the Surface': A look at the rise in shark sightings off LI shores It seems shark sightings are dominating headlines on Long Island and researchers are on a quest to find out why more sharks are showing up in Long Island waters. NewsdayTV meteorologist Rich Von Ohlen discusses how to stay safe. 

It seems shark sightings are dominating headlines on Long Island and researchers are on a quest to find out why more sharks are showing up in Long Island waters. NewsdayTV meteorologist Rich Von Ohlen discusses how to stay safe.  Credit: Newsday/A. J. Singh; Gary Licker

'Beneath the Surface': A look at the rise in shark sightings off LI shores It seems shark sightings are dominating headlines on Long Island and researchers are on a quest to find out why more sharks are showing up in Long Island waters. NewsdayTV meteorologist Rich Von Ohlen discusses how to stay safe. 

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