Firefighters heroically saved a skater who fell into a frozen lake in northern China

The video was filmed in the city of Dandong in Liaoning Province on December 8.

A man, braving the icy conditions for a skate, tragically fell through a thin patch of ice, leading to a harrowing ordeal.

Despite warnings from onlookers who had cautioned against skating due to unseasonably warm weather, a man had ventured out onto the fragile ice. His situation rapidly deteriorated as he struggled to stay afloat, his legs numb and his strength waning.

The Dandong Fire Brigade's Water Rescue Team, led by the valiant Captain Zhang Chao, raced against time to reach the scene. The man, trapped and panicking, could barely move, his desperation palpable.

The park lake was not particularly deep, so the man was not submerged. However, repeated attempts to climb out had failed, and his energy was nearly depleted. The rescuers, calming him down, meticulously coordinated their approach.

Three firefighters from the Binjiang West Road Rescue Station, secured with safety ropes and clad in specialized ice rescue suits, inched cautiously towards the victim.

The first rescuer, armed with a life ring, descended into the hole, attempting to secure it around the immobilised man. After several failed attempts, a second rescuer stepped in, only to break through another weak spot in the ice. Together, they managed to fit the life ring under the man's arms.

The third rescuer, dressed in a striking red dry suit, worked in unison with the team onshore, pulling the safety rope to bring the victim towards the bank. Navigating the cracked ice, they eventually reached a thicker patch.

In an impressive display of agility, the rescuers rolled and crawled onto the firmer ice, dragging the victim to safety. The two in the water then extricated themselves.

Once ashore, the exhausted but relieved skater, a man in his fifties still in his skates and nearly frozen stiff, was immediately tended to by medical personnel. Thankfully, his life was not in danger.

Captain Zhang Chao highlighted that Qingnian Lake, usually a popular skating spot in winter, was not officially open, leading to skaters creating makeshift access to the ice.

The video was provided by local media with permission.

12月8日晨7时许，辽宁丹东，一名男子在振兴区青年湖公园湖上滑冰时不慎掉进冰窟窿，丹东消防水域救援队员及时赶到将其救出。
救援人员透露，有目击者称，事前曾有人劝说滑冰男子不要下去滑冰，说“天气回暖、不安全”，但是该男子没有听劝。
救援人员到达现场时，被困在冰窟窿里的滑冰男子还泡在湖中间，从其言语中可以听出情绪比较激动，他说自己已经动不了了、双腿已经失去知觉。
丹东市消防救援支队水域救援专业队队长张超说，好在这是公园里的湖，湖水不深，滑冰男子没有沉入水底。不过，因冰窟窿周围冰面不结实，该男子可能多次自救都没能爬上冰面，体力也耗尽了。
救援人员一面对其安抚，一面抓紧布置救援。滨江西路消防救援站3名救援人员系好安全绳、带上救生圈，穿好冰域救援服和水域干式救援服，拉开距离，试探着走向被困男子。“冰面上不时传出裂缝声，让人提心吊胆。”
走在最前面的救援人员带着救生圈下到冰窟窿里，想要把救生圈套到被困男子身上，但因该男子无法行动，几次都没能成功，第二名救援人员上前帮忙，又踩出了一个冰窟窿，他就在冰水中爬向前一个冰窟窿，帮助第一名救援人员把救生圈套在男子腋下。
随后，第三名穿着红色水域干式救援服的救援人员和岸上人员一起拽动安全绳，前两名救援人员辅助，把救生圈和被困男子拽向岸边。因冰层开裂，第三名救援人员下到水中破冰前行。
到了冰层较厚的地方，救援人员“转身翻滚”爬上冰面，拽着被推上冰面的救生圈和被困男子走到岸边，另两名救援人员从冰水中自行脱身。
在岸上救援人员的合力下，被困男子营救上岸，交由现场医护人员进行救治。张超介绍，该男子大约50多岁，脚上还穿着溜冰鞋，几乎冻僵失去自我行动能力，好在没有生命危险。
张超说，青年湖公园湖面距地面最高处也有一人多高，这里冬季的时候就是公园的滑冰场，从公园的缓步梯可以下到冰面。但现在公园没有开放，就有溜冰爱好者自搭木梯下到湖面溜冰。
张超提醒，掉入冰窟不要惊慌，在呼救时要攀住冰缘，避免身体沉入冰水之中。双手及双臂千万不要乱扑乱打，这样会使冰面断裂的面积加大。