A lawyer who was swept to her loss of life after she jumped by means of a Russian ice gap in a frozen river to mark Orthodox Epiphany has been pictured for the primary time.
Mom-of-two Anna Uskova, 40, was seen in a deeply distressing video plunging feet-first into the Oredezh River close to Vyra, a village south of St Petersburg, Russia, on Wednesday, earlier than vanishing.
Her two younger kids screamed as she was pulled away by a robust present.
Her businessman husband Yury, 50, dived in however was unable to rescue her.
Anna Uskova, 40, (pictured) was swept to her loss of life in entrance of her younger kids when she jumped right into a Russian ice gap to mark epiphany
The lawyer jumped right into a frozen river to mark Christian Orthodox Epiphany on Wednesday
An oblong gap had been minimize into the thick ice on the Oredezh River close to Vyra, a village south of St Petersburg, Russia. She jumped in put the sturdy present swept her away and she or he is presumed to have drowned
The lawyer from St Petersburg meant to dip within the waters to mark Christian Orthodox Epiphany in a convention adopted yearly by a whole bunch of 1000’s of Russian believers.
Folks imagine that water blessed for the annual ceremony possesses particular therapeutic properties.
Some individuals go into the icy waters on their very own, whereas others usually participate within the celebration in teams as they remembered the baptism of Jesus within the River Jordan.
A gap had been minimize into the thick ice and the air temperature was round -5C when the Anna jumped in.
She was in a black one-piece swimming costume and was seen crossing herself earlier than holding her nostril and hopping into the river.
Pictured: The St Petersburg lawyer together with her husband Yury, 50, a businessman
Her 10-year-old son (pictured with Anna and Yury) 14-year-old daugter watched her closing moments
Anna Uskova bathing (left) in Oredezh river, the place she later drowned. The lawyer was swept away by a powerful present
The mother-of-two’s physique has nonetheless not been discovered nearly every week after the accident occurred
Volunteers with underwater drones will now attempt to discover her corpse, which was swept below the ice
A person believed to be the lady’s husband, 50, jumped in to attempt to save her however was unable to search out her
A rescue staff that included divers was dispatched to the scene however they had been unable to search out the lady’s physique
The river’s present was considered transferring at a charge of 10ft a second when the lady jumped in
A male attendant standing beside the ice gap shouted for assist when he noticed her swept away.
Her distressed kids, a woman, 14, and boy, 10, had been heard screaming in footage of the tragedy.
One cried ‘Mama, Mama…’, as a girl tried in useless to consolation them.
Repeated dives by state rescuers failed to search out the lady’s physique, and now volunteers with underwater drones are will attempt discover her.
The village of Vyra is simply south of St Petersburg, within the Leningrad area of Russia
Pictured: The Oredezh River when it isn’t frozen. Mr Zuyev stated even in summer time individuals usually drowned within the fast-flowing river
Anastasia Lunika, the swimming coach for Anna’s son, advised Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper: ‘It is a superb household.
‘Her son involves me for swimming, and is profitable on this.
‘However that day Yury referred to as me.
‘He was in tears, crying into the cellphone.
‘He briefly spoke concerning the tragedy that occurred to the household.
‘He stated that his son wouldn’t go to swimming lessons quickly, however would proceed later.
‘His mom went below water earlier than his eyes…
‘I instantly requested Yuri If any assist was wanted, and he stated no.
‘However his situation is, after all, critical. He cried loads.’
Consultants criticised using an unapproved ice maintain for the midnight dip.
Alexander Zuyev, head of VOSVOD emergency rescue service, stated: ‘The girl went for a plunge in a location the place there aren’t any rescuers or applicable lighting in an unsuitable ice gap.’
Alexander Zuyev (pictured), head of VOSVOD emergency rescue service, criticised the inserting of the ice gap at some extent the place the river had a powerful present
On the identical day a ‘secure’ ice gap within the Oredezh River by Vyra village was created with rescuers and an ambulance on standby in addition to a wood body and steps to assist individuals out and in of the water
She was ‘merely carried away with the move’.
The momentum of her bounce took her below the ice and she or he couldn’t get again.
‘It is without doubt one of the most harmful rivers in Leningrad area and other people drown in it yearly, even in summer time,’ he stated.
Elsewhere within the village, Vyra village, close to Gatchina, in Leningrad area, there was an ‘official’ gap, with rescuers and paramedics on standby, in addition to a wood body and steps to assist individuals out and in of the water.
