Thousands flock to Polish seaside for icy swim

More than 8,000 brave souls took a polar bear plunge in the icy waters of the Baltic Sea at the weekend during an international gathering of winter swimming enthusiasts in the Polish coastal town of Mielno.

People enjoy a cold water dip in the seaside town of Mielno, on Poland's Baltic coast, at the weekend.

Photo: PAP/Marcin Bielecki

A new record of attendance was set for the annual International Ice Swimmers’ Rally event, according to local officials in Mielno.

Town Hall spokeswoman Mirosława Diwyk-Koza said: “A total of 8,576 people joined the 19^th International Ice Swimmers’ Rally and took a collective bath in the sea on Sunday."

She added: "The oldest active swimmers were a 95-year-old lady from southern Poland and an 80-year-old man from north-central Poland.”

Michał Owczarek has the story...

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