BODY OF ICE SWIMMER FOUND WITH CAMERA RUNNING IN NORTHERN GERMANY

ROSTOCK (Germany), Jan 13 (Bernama-dpa) -- The body of an ice swimmer was pulled out of the water in the northern German coastal town of Wismar on Monday, after what emergency services said was a "tragic accident," German Press Agency (dpa) reported.

A witness called the emergency services after he saw the man jump into the ice but not return to the surface. 

As well as the body, rescue teams found two holes in the ice and a camera. The camera was still recording and showed "how he had jumped into the water and did not come back out," the emergency team said. 

The water at the location was just 1.75 metres deep. The ice was about 5 to 7 centimetres thick, but the man had not fallen through by accident, police said. The unfortunate swimmer had cut a hole in the ice to jump through.

The man's car was also found near the pond where he jumped in. His partner was also at the scene, and receiving counselling.

The police spokeswoman was unable to say whether the partner had only arrived during the search or had already been there beforehand.

It is not yet clear why the man died. "It looks like a tragic accident," a police spokeswoman said.

With unusually cold weather freezing many large bodies of ice across the country, the German Lifesaving Association (DLRG) has advised against going ice swimming alone. "You should at least be travelling in pairs so that you can react in an emergency," a DLRG spokesman told dpa.

"Ideally, you should go to the doctor beforehand and clarify" whether you are in good enough health to swim in ice-cold water, it recommended.

-- BERNAMA-dpa