Men Jumping into a River Frozen at Minus 30 Degrees "There Is a Special Reason"

Periodic Diving in Lake Michigan, Chicago, USA Gains Attention
"Diving Boosts Endorphins and Energizes"

Videos of men diving into a frozen river amid consecutive heavy snowfalls and cold waves are gaining worldwide attention.

Dan O'Connor diving in Lake Michigan, Chicago, USA.
[Photo by Dan O'Connor Instagram]

On the 16th (local time), Dan O'Connor (56) posted a video on his social media showing himself and his friend Glen Rischke, who call themselves the "Great Lake Jumper," searching for a suitable spot to dive along the shore of Lake Michigan in Chicago, USA. After finding the spot, they took off their coats and outerwear and jumped into the icy river. On that day, the temperature in Chicago ranged from a low of minus 29 degrees Celsius to a high of minus 26 degrees Celsius, with a wind chill dropping to minus 33 degrees Celsius.

O'Connor, a former advertising executive at a magazine company, revealed that he started diving into Lake Michigan during the COVID-19 pandemic to relieve stress and has continued the activity into 2024. In an interview with a local news outlet, he said, "(Diving) has many benefits. It releases endorphins and boosts energy," adding, "I didn't initially plan to continue diving for a long time, but it has become like a 'ritual.' I have no plans to stop anytime soon." He also reassured people not to worry, explaining that the body’s protective instincts kick in during cold weather.

On that day, O'Connor and Rischke stayed submerged for about a minute before quickly heading to their nearby parked vehicle. Rischke said, "I joined O'Connor's event for mental health reasons," adding, "It's hard to explain exactly, but everything feels a little less heavy."

Dan O'Connor and Glen Rischke diving in Lake Michigan, Chicago, USA.
[Photo by Dan O'Connor Instagram]

O'Connor, who is a longtime music fan, also stated that he organizes the diving events as fundraisers to support small independent music venues. Recently, he has been dedicating his dives to albums and musicians associated with specific dates as a tribute.

He said, "When I jump into Lake Michigan here, where the urban forest of buildings and nature blend, I feel for a moment like I own it all," adding, "Instead of resentment and complaints, I feel gratitude, and my darkened mind brightens. That’s why I come back here every morning to dive."

Netizens who saw the video responded with comments such as "Amazing despite the cold," "Just watching the video makes me feel like I might get frostbite," "A great way to relieve stress," and "As long as it doesn’t harm others, it seems okay to keep diving."

Meanwhile, the U.S. National Weather Service issued a cold weather warning for northeastern and central Illinois, including Chicago, advising people to avoid going outside, stating, "Although temperatures have somewhat recovered compared to the past two days, the weather remains dangerous."

■ National Safety Guidelines for Water Activities

1. Before Water Activities
- Perform sufficient warm-up exercises and wear a life jacket before entering the water.
- Children must be accompanied by a guardian during water activities.
- At beaches, rivers, and other water bodies, stay within designated safe zones and never swim after drinking alcohol.
- Follow the instructions of safety personnel during water activities.

2. How to Respond to Water Accidents
- Even if confident in swimming, use available safety equipment (life rings, life jackets, rescue ropes, etc.) at the site to ensure safe rescue.
- In case of drowning, shout to alert others (immediately call 119) and do not jump into the water recklessly to rescue.
- Provide emergency treatment such as artificial respiration or CPR when rescuing a person who has fallen into the water.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.