Alexandra Högborg was wrapped in three layers of winter clothing and sturdy boots as she walked to the edge of the ice hole.
Her teachers had made sure that the chances of her getting stuck in the punishingly cold liquid for too long were as low as possible by tying a rope around her waist.
The tether was only a back-up however, designed for worst case scenarios - such as slipping underneath the ice sheet, or if she took on too much water after the shock of the water pushed air out of her lungs.
