Two Dutch skaters rescued after falling through ice in Austria
Two Dutch men, aged 22 and 23, fell through the ice on the Weissensee in the Austrian region of Karinthië on Saturday afternoon and were treated for hypothermia. They were rescued by two bystanders after spending a perilous amount of time in the freezing water.
The incident occurred at approximately 12:15 p.m., according to Austrian police. The men had been skating for about an hour and a half when the ice gave way beneath them.
A Dutch man onshore heard their cries for help and alerted rescue services. Working with a 34-year-old Austrian, he pushed a rowboat 200 meters across the ice toward the skaters. A rope was thrown from the boat, enabling the men to pull themselves from the icy water.
Emergency responders treated the skaters for hypothermia at the scene. Both men left after receiving medical care.
The Royal Dutch Skating Federation (KNSB) confirmed that the two individuals were not participants in the open Dutch Championship on natural ice, which was held on the Weissensee that same day.
The Weissensee is a popular destination for winter sports enthusiasts and serves as the venue for the Alternative Elfstedentocht, a long-distance skating event modeled after the famed Dutch Elfstedentocht.
