Daredevils take to icy waters in Covid-era challenge

Franz Mayr (left) and Irina Hey in the frigid waters of the Eisbach river in Munich, southern Germany, during winter weather, with temperatures of -2°C, on Jan 16, 2021. — AFP

With swimming pools and gyms closed under Covid-19 restrictions, a handful of Munich, Germany, residents are challenging themselves with a new way to stay active – by swimming in the icy waters of the Eisbach river.

"The Eisbach is one of the few places where you can still experience something a little crazy," chuckles Franz Mayr, a 35-year-old therapist who takes a dip every week in the stream through the heart of the Bavarian capital.