A recently surfaced video captures the moment a father lowers his one-year-old son into a -30C ice bath, sparking controversy.
The footage, widely shared on Russian social media platforms, depicts 31-year-old Radmir Gaysarov submerging his 16-month-old child into a Siberian ice opening.
While some parents commend the act as a way to toughen up the child, medical professionals have criticized the health risks associated with exposing such a young individual to extreme cold conditions, with temperatures reaching -30C and water just above freezing.
Many Russians believe in the advantages of ice swimming, even for infants.
One supportive father commented on the video, stating, “This is a method to strengthen our children.” A mother expressed interest, saying, “That’s impressive… I’d like to introduce my child to this as well.”
Following the incident in Surgut, the child was honored with a ‘Walrus’ medal by an ice swimming club.
In the video, the father is heard remarking in the freezing cold, “Our little walrus is one year and four months old. The youngest among them all. [His name is] Martin. Well done! Well done!”
Despite appearing shocked, the child remains calm as he is dipped into the cold water three times, with the father reassuring, “everything’s fine,” while wrapping a light towel around his son in the -30C climate.
Later that day, a local recreational center awarded the one-year-old with a medal and praised his father, a wedding DJ, for his bravery in taking the icy plunge.
However, healthcare professionals expressed concern over the clip, highlighting the significant health risks posed by subjecting the child to extreme cold temperatures at such a young age.
Russian pediatric cardiologist Rita Pikhtovnikova emphasized the severe stress on the child’s body when immersed in 0-4°C water, particularly on an underdeveloped cardiovascular system.
She cautioned that a child’s thermoregulation is not fully matured at this age, and sudden exposure to icy water can lead to various health complications, including cardiac issues and neurological problems.
According to guidelines from the Kremlin health ministry, any ice immersion should be supervised and gradual, with participants using officially designated ice holes.
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