Walkers rescued from drifting ice floe in Baltic Sea - Dramatic nighttime rescue saves two stranded on Baltic Sea ice floe
Two people were rescued early this morning after being stranded on a drifting ice floe in the Baltic Sea near Plienciems, Latvia. The pair was carried kilometres from shore when a large chunk of ice broke free, prompting an urgent nighttime operation.
The rescue began when authorities confirmed the two individuals were trapped on the moving ice. Darkness and thick ice floes made navigation difficult for the response team. An icebreaker was deployed to search the Gulf of Riga, where conditions were particularly harsh.
After five hours of intensive searching, the rescuers finally located the stranded pair. The icebreaker's crane hoisted them from the ice and brought them safely aboard. Similar operations in the area usually take around five hours, though no other rescues of this kind have been recorded in the Baltic Sea over the last five years.
The rescued individuals were transported to Riga's harbour, arriving around 3 a.m. Medical teams were waiting to assess their condition upon arrival.
The operation concluded successfully, with both people receiving immediate care after reaching shore. Authorities have not reported any further incidents of this nature in recent years. The rescue highlights the challenges of nighttime operations in icy Baltic conditions.
