A bucket list trip to Russia’s extreme north came to a devastating end after a loving 57-year-old tourist was carried away by a strong current.
The incident arose while she went ice floating, as per local media outlets. The unnamed individual vanished during a group session floating on the Tuloma River in the Arctic town of Kola, which is located south of Murmansk, during the New Year celebrations.
Search teams were seen battling thick fog and bone-cracking frost where temperatures dipped to minus 30 degrees Celsius.
There was near total darkness, and that is what made the search operation so difficult. The tourist was believed to have traveled with an organized group to participate in ice floating. This is a popular activity where people wear special dry suits to float safely and warmly in frozen bodies of water.
Despite the safety levels being so high and many calling it an activity where it’s nearly impossible to drown, the result has left many stunned and devastated, as she was believed to have been floating for 40 minutes before disappearing.