A Samsung Electronics smartphone reportedly functioned normally even after being submerged in a frozen river for 5 hours.

Wild tour guide Mikael Krecula in the Kiruna region of Sweden rescues a Galaxy S23 Ultra that has fallen into the frozen river. /Courtesy of Samsung Electronics

According to Samsung Electronics on the 26th, a wild tour guide in Sweden, 'Mikael Kreukula,' recently dropped his mobile phone into a hole for ice fishing while testing sonar equipment above the Kalix River.

The mobile phone sank about 3 meters below the frozen riverbed. Kreukula drilled 8 additional holes in the ice around him and attempted to retrieve it using a tool made of birch branches, a shovel, and plastic bags. He ultimately managed to recover it only after 5 hours.

Kreukula said, "The phone lying gently under the ice caught my eye, but it was just out of reach. The moment the phone fell, it felt like a part of my life vanished instantly. It was not just a simple mobile phone; it had become a companion that carried everything from photos to identification, credit cards, and all the useful features needed for work throughout my daily life."

After Kreukula retrieved the mobile phone, he immediately pressed the power button. The phone turned on right away, showing a screen indicating 3 missed calls. It functioned normally without any drying process or reboot.

Kreukula stored the smartphone in a lodge for a day for safety, and it reportedly worked normally the next day and is still in use. It was revealed that Kreukula's smartphone is the 'Galaxy S23 Ultra,' released by Samsung Electronics in 2023.

Kreukula said, "Now I always carry a net and hold my mobile phone more firmly. It was an unforgettable experience to confirm that the Galaxy S series is much stronger than expected."