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Cologne (dpa / lnw) - According to its own statements, the water rescue service of the Cologne fire brigade used "the rare opportunity" on Sunday to train an ice rescue at the Aachener Weiher under real conditions.
Three emergency services in diving suits had successfully practiced rescues from the ice with two exercises within an hour and a half, said a spokeswoman.
A diver each played the victim.
First, the emergency services cut a hole in the ice and pulled the person out using a stretcher.
In the second exercise, the victim imitated breaking into the ice surface.
The Cologne fire brigade has issued an urgent warning against entering frozen waters.
The ice-cold water quickly removes heat from the body, so that life-threatening hypothermia threatens within minutes.
Despite the warnings, the Aachener Weiher was full of people on Sunday morning, the spokeswoman said.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 210214-99-436149 / 2