Norwegian cools down from winter cold by taking freezing water dip

A Norwegian man has filmed himself braving the arctic chill to swim under 15cm-thick ice as part of a winter swimming challenge.

Mads Holvik, from the south-eastern Norwegian city of Frekhaug, stripped to his underwater before tying a rope to his leg for safety and entering the -10 degree water.

"It's a nice temperature," he says to his friend, with a cheeky grin, as he plunges straight in to the dark icy depths.

Although, based on his audible gasps, it's obvious the experience is not as pleasant as he is making out.

After a few moments bobbing in the water, he ducks under the ice and swims from ice break to ice break, choosing to stay in the water for about 90-seconds after completing the ice swim.

Winter swimming challenges are common across Scandinavia and Russia, with Holvik laying down a challenge to a Russian friend.

The brave swimmer even offered viewers of his video a safety tip, reminding them to always attach a rope to themselves if taking part and to make sure there is always someone keeping watch above the ice.

Source: YouTube