Heroic Firefighter Rescues Dog from Cracking Ice in Poland

The news in Polish

1. wpaść
   Wpaść – nagle i niespodziewanie znaleźć się w jakimś miejscu. ↩︎
2. zbiornik (m.)
   Zbiornik – duża przestrzeń, gdzie gromadzi się wodę. ↩︎
3. załamać
   Załamać – spowodować pęknięcie czegoś. ↩︎
4. ryzykować
   Ryzykować – narażać się na niebezpieczeństwo. ↩︎
5. uratować
   Uratować – ocalić kogoś lub coś przed niebezpieczeństwem. ↩︎
6. niebezpieczeństwo (n.)
   Niebezpieczeństwo – sytuacja, w której istnieje zagrożenie. ↩︎

Translation

Text Comprehension

Question: Where did the dog fall into the water?

Question: What did Szymon Jaśniewicz do?

Vocabulary

Polish	English
wpaść	fall into
zbiornik (m.)	reservoir
załamać	collapse
ryzykować	risk
uratować	save
niebezpieczeństwo (n.)	danger

Read the full story

The perilous event unfolded when a dog, exploring the frozen expanse with other animals and children in the vicinity, suddenly found itself struggling in freezing water as the ice beneath it cracked. Eyewitnesses nearby were unable to assist due to the fragility of the ice, but emergency services arrived promptly at the scene. Video footage released by the municipal guards vividly captures the tension and rapid response that ensued.

Szymon Jaśniewicz, a firefighter with the local fire department, played a pivotal role in the rescue. Despite the risk of the ice breaking, he was securely tethered by a rescue line when he ventured onto the brittle surface. “I knew I could fall through any moment,” Jaśniewicz recounted, describing the audible cracking sounds as he lay prone on the ice. “I managed to grab the dog just as the ice shattered beneath us.” Thanks to his safety equipment, including a special dry suit, and the quick reactions of his colleagues, both Jaśniewicz and the dog were successfully pulled to safety.

The dog, initially weak but non-aggressive during the ordeal, was quickly taken to a local veterinary clinic for treatment and has since happily returned home. Meanwhile, an investigation is underway to determine how the pets managed to escape their enclosure.

This incident serves as a stark reminder from local authorities about the dangers of venturing onto frozen bodies of water. “The ice is truly brittle and poses a significant risk,” they cautioned, urging the public to heed warnings and avoid potentially tragic accidents in future cold spells. The powerful rescue footage has been shared widely on social media, highlighting both the bravery of the rescuers and the urgent need for safety awareness during winter months.

Info: “Polish Learner News” is a service from “Let’s Learn Polish,” a language school dedicated to teaching Polish to learners worldwide. We offer various types of online Polish courses.