Story By: Anastasia Smirnova, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder,Agency: Central European News
Video Credit: CEN/@kareliasafari.com
Two Russian parents have sparked controversy after images allegedly showing them taking their baby son on a 14-mile skating trip across thin ice was shared on social media.
The incident took place on Lake Onega near the city of Petrozavodsk in the north-western Russian republic of Karelia and the images were later posted on social networks.
Extreme sports enthusiasts Elena and Oleg Dyomochkin from the city of Petrozavodsk allegedly decided to take their baby on a reckless trip across the frozen lake.
Without precautionary measures, the family allegedly took to the ice from the shore of Petrozavodsk to the small island of Kizhi near the geometrical centre of the Lake Onega, according to reports.
Using ice skates, the entire journey was a distance of 22 kilometres (14 miles).
The couple allegedly pushed their newborn son Misha along the ice in a pram.
The baby’s mother said that Misha was asleep all the way to the island.
She said: “Is it true you can reach Kizhi on skates? Yes it is!”
Elena said the entire journey was “pretty safe” but reportedly admitted that they were skating on black ice that was no thicker than 5 centimetres in some places.
They reportedly carried out the trip despite warnings from the local authorities to not step on the ice.
Reports said the video the parents posted on social media was widely slammed by netizens and drew the attention of local ombudsman Gennadiy Saraev.
According to local media, both parents may be investigated for failure to fulfil their parental responsibilities.
Netizen ‘Eagordeeva’ said: “I just do not understand why people would do something like that.”
‘Kizimovaulia’ commented: “If it was up to me, I’d take their parental rights away immediately.”
‘TatyanaGeraPt’ wrote: “The things people do to get media attention…”
Speaking about their critics, Elena, who runs the kareliasafari.com website, told Central European News (CEN): “We do not care about them. People who do interesting and unusual things in life usually get slammed for doing it.”
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