This is the moment a man risked his life by running into the sea and diving into a furious tornado in Russia.

Maxim Pavlov had been drinking on the beach when he waded into the Gulf of Finland, ignoring the protests of his friends.

'Maxim, come here, you drunk idiot,' shouted one.

He approached the tornado as a friend warned: 'Hold on to the trees, lads.'

The Russian is seen disappearing in the sea under the tornado as it rages over the water near St Petersburg.