Cross-border SAR operation on the ice of the Gulf of Bothnia

According to the Finnish Border Guard, the SAR operation was immediately launched despite extremely challenging winter conditions. Aerial assets from both Finland and Sweden were deployed, demonstrating strong cross-border cooperation in the northern Baltic region.

Authorities later confirmed that the two individuals were on a long-distance skiing expedition across the sea ice. They had spent the night in a tent on the ice, but during the night the ice sheet fractured, causing the tent and most of their equipment to fall into the water.

The skiers managed to escape to a more stable section of ice but had almost no gear with them, exposing them to significant risk of hypothermia in sub-zero conditions. In addition, to increase their visibility to rescuers, they laid out a large “SOS” signal on the ice, which could be seen from the air. Such visual distress signals are a critical measure for increasing detectability in remote or hard-to-access areas.

Following the emergency beacon signal, SAR units conducted an extensive aerial search across a vast ice field. The two individuals were eventually located and safely rescued.

This incident highlights the hazards of winter expeditions on sea ice in the northern Baltic. Even though ice thickness in the Gulf of Bothnia can reach several tens of centimetres during winter, ice conditions remain highly dynamic and unpredictable due to wind, currents, and temperature fluctuations.

Rescue authorities emphasize that carrying a personal emergency locator beacon (PLB) and using standard visual signals such as SOS markedly increases survival chances in remote ice-covered maritime environments and allows rapid activation of international SAR procedures.