Overview
- Two volunteers paddled an inflatable canoe on the Landwehrkanal near Lohmühlenbrücke in Neukölln and used a hammer and a broom-like tool to break the ice and release a weakened swan.
- The Berlin Fire Department was dispatched at about 15:30 and, upon arrival after the release, took custody of the bird and transferred it to a care facility.
- An Instagram video of the rescue drew wide attention, accumulating about 76,000 likes within a short time.
- The rescuers said authorities would not intervene while the swan was in the water, while a fire department spokesman pointed to risk assessments and the limited availability of specialized ice-diver resources.
- Police and wildlife experts warn that entering ice-covered water is dangerous, noting a recent death at Biesdorfer Baggersee and advising the public to contact specialist rescuers instead.