Russian Rescuer Crawls Across Thin Ice to Save Trapped Roe Deer

Komsomolsk-on-Amur, Russia – A rescuer in a protective suit crawled across thin ice on the Amur River to reach an exhausted young roe deer stuck in a hole about five metres from the shore on November 4.

Footage released by Russia's Emergencies Ministry shows the rescuer lying flat on the ice as he edges toward the animal, attached to a rope held by colleagues on the bank. The deer is then carried up the snowy bank and later shown resting in straw.

Witnesses called rescuers after spotting the animal on the ice near the river station on the city's embankment, the ministry said. The water at that spot is about three metres deep.

The deer was taken to a local animal centre, where staff gave it a place to warm up and recover.