Dutch Blogger Risks His Life in Russia and Dives into an Ice Hole at -52° Celsius

The Dutch blogger Frank van Dam undertook a highly dangerous experience in Yakutsk, eastern Russia, known as one of the coldest inhabited cities in the world, where he dived into an ice hole amidst temperatures reaching 52 degrees Celsius below zero.

The Pursuit of Social Media Fame

Van Dam explained that Yakutsk had always been on his list of dream destinations, noting that he deliberately chose winter, as videos in extreme cold receive higher viewership and spread quickly on social media platforms.

50 Seconds That Could Have Been Fatal

The Western blogger entered the freezing waters accompanied by two other men, remaining inside the ice hole for only 50 seconds, admitting that he felt intense anxiety before descending, and said the thought crossed his mind that the experience could be “deadly.”

Sharp Pain and Panic

Van Dam described the moments following his exit from the water, saying:
“I felt insane pain, my heart raced, I panicked and fell twice, and I struggled to put on my shoes and run towards the nearest warm place.”
He added, joking about himself:
“I’m not used to swimming in ice holes; I’m just a naive Western tourist.”

Plans for More Extreme Adventures

In conclusion, Van Dam expressed his desire to return to Russia next year to visit even more extreme climatic areas like Verkhoyansk and Kamchatka, aiming to film a series documenting life in harsh weather conditions.