Olympic speed skater Andrew Nicholson describes dodging death at frozen dam in Central Otago

A former Olympic speed skater says he’s feeling lucky to be alive after falling through a frozen dam in Central Otago.

Andrew Nicholson, who earned a fourth place in a skating event at the 1992 Winter Olympics, was skating at Lower Manorburn Dam when he moved 3m from the thick-ice markers and fell through the ice.

Nicholson told the Herald he realised he’d made a “big mistake”.

“I went in instantly, over my head in water and cries unheard,” Nicholson said in a post on social media.

He said he is “well aware of how lucky I am to live where and when I live”.

'I went in instantly, over my head in water and cries unheard,' Nicholson said in a post on social media.

At the time of the incident, he didn’t have a flotation device with him and was skating alone.

“In spite of my experience, the ice can change drastically within 2m, a couple of metres away it was very thick and I stepped outside of where anybody had been by a few metres,” he said.

He said he was too far from any neighbouring properties. The only thing that saved him was his safety training.

“Fortunately I knew the drill ... Stay calm, big breaths, try to get the rest of the body to float ... slowly creeping on belly hooking a foot I managed to slide on belly to safety.

“If I did not know the drill I would not be here,” he said.

Nicholson said a key part of survival is remaining calm.

“I took some big breaths, I stayed calm I had the skills and I’ve done the training.”

Former Olympic speed skater Andrew Nicholson after falling through a frozen dam in Central Otago.

Nicholson is urging others to be aware of the risks and make sure they know what to do if they find themselves in trouble.

“As an Olympic speed skater I should have known better. Lesson learned. The rule I broke was skating on unchecked ice. Even if only the metres from safe ice.”

“Normally I take a surfboard, buoyancy aid, ice picks etc. the tools needed to safely self rescue,” he said.

Nicholson doesn’t want what happened to him to put people off skating outdoors.

“Don’t let this put you off ... just don’t do what I did,” he said.

As soon as he got out of the water, all Nicholson could think about was skating again.

“I was just looking forward to getting out there again, I was just thinking ‘wow this is really good ice’.”

It wasn’t until later on in the day when Nicholson realised what had happened that he started to feel slightly “shaken up”.

“I’m glad I had the fitness and ability to get out, but if it was somebody else it could have been a different story.”

Other than a bruised rib, Nicholson is feeling “great”.

“Great to be alive. Otherwise, a great day. Got changed and skated all day.”

He has a message for anyone thinking of heading out on the ice.

“Don’t go alone, don’t skate where people haven’t very recently, have safety gear handy and if it sounds like it’s cracking directly under your feet, it’s too thin, get off it straight away.”

“When you can go out, get out there and make the most of it, it’s a fantastic sport ice skating, it’s beautiful being able to do it outdoors, enjoy it.”