Two men rescued after falling through ice on Lake Tapeliai in Vilnius district

Two men were pulled from the water on Tuesday morning after falling through the ice on Lake Tapeliai in Vilnius district, rescue services reported.

The Lithuanian Fire and Rescue Department (PAGD) received an emergency call at 10:25 AM reporting that two men were drowning in the lake. Rescue teams from Vilnius’s 3rd and 6th fire and rescue units arrived at the scene and located the men 20–30 metres from the shore, clinging to the edge of the ice hole, according to an official statement posted on Facebook.

Using rescue ropes, firefighters reached the victims, pulled them from the water, and brought them to shore. The men were then handed over to medical personnel for further care.

Authorities warned that spring ice on bodies of water remains particularly hazardous and may appear stable while being dangerously thin. They urged the public to avoid stepping onto ice-covered lakes or rivers.

The rescue follows a fatal incident in Šiauliai on Monday, where a 71-year-old man fell through the ice on Lake Rėkyva. Despite being pulled from the water, he could not be revived and was later declared dead.