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Girl awakes 'unscathed' after ice fall drama

Peter Vinthagen Simpson
Peter Vinthagen Simpson - [email protected]
Girl awakes 'unscathed' after ice fall drama

A six-year-old girl who was rescued by her mother after becoming trapped under ice in a creek in southern Sweden last week has awoken after her extended ordeal apparently unhurt.

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The girl awoke after four days in an induced coma at the intensive care ward at Kalmar hospital in southern Sweden on Saturday and is reported to have expressed a wish to go home.

"The crisis is over and we are very happy," the girl's father said according to the Kvällsposten daily.

The girl and her older brother were playing near the shoreline of a creek in Flygsfors near Orrefors in southern Sweden before venturing out on the ice when it suddenly gave way, sending both of them crashing into the icy water.

While the girl's brother managed to pull himself out of the water and make it back to shore, he was unable to help his sister and instead ran back to his house to alert his mother about the accident.

By the time the mother arrived, the 6-year-old girl had drifted under the ice about 20 metres away from the hole where she and her brother had fallen in.

However, the mother was able spot the girl through the clear ice, around three to four metres from shore.

Several passers-by were able to come to the aid of the girl, including attempts to resuscitate her.

The girl had another stroke of luck on the way to hospital when the ambulance in which she was being transported passed by another ambulance carrying an anaesthetist.

The girl was quickly put to sleep and her body temperature cooled in order to protect her organs. After four days, doctors at the hospital took the decision to take her off a respirator and wake her up.

The doctors now believe that despite having spent such a long period under the ice the girl has not sustained any serious injuries.

The six-year-old has now been moved from intensive care to a regular ward and is reported to have enjoyed ice cream in her hospital bed on Saturday.

"She was still in shock, but recognised us and said that she wanted to go home. It was one of the most wonderful things I have ever heard her say," her father told the newspaper.

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