With the aid of a chain-saw Alaskans carve a trail of breathing holes in the ice in temperatures of minus 26 degrees Celsius. Three grey whales had become trapped under the ice north of Alaska. Aided by the US Air Force and Soviet ice-breakers, local Inuits succeeded in leading two of them back to the open sea.

For a week the animal-loving world held its breath, when three grey whales had become trapped under the ice north of Alaska. Aided by the US Air Force and Soviet ice-breakers, local Eskimos succeeded in leading two of them back to the open sea.

Locals comfort the trapped whales as their liberation approaches. Three grey whales had become trapped under the ice north of Alaska. Three grey whales had become trapped under the ice north of Alaska. Aided by the US Air Force and Soviet ice-breakers, local Inuits succeeded in leading two of them back to the open sea.

A machine agitating the water keeps it from re-freezing. Three grey whales had become trapped under the ice north of Alaska. Aided by the US Air Force and Soviet ice-breakers, local Inuits succeeded in leading two of them back to the open sea.

Whales come up for air. Three grey whales had become trapped under the ice north of Alaska. Aided by the US Air Force and Soviet ice-breakers, local Inuits succeeded in leading two of them back to the open sea.

Three grey whales had become trapped under the ice north of Alaska. Aided by the US Air Force and Soviet ice-breakers, local Inuits succeeded in leading two of them back to the open sea.

Three grey whales had become trapped under the ice north of Alaska. Aided by the US Air Force and Soviet ice-breakers, local Inuits succeeded in leading two of them back to the open sea.

Three grey whales had become trapped under the ice north of Alaska. Aided by the US Air Force and Soviet ice-breakers, local Inuits succeeded in leading two of them back to the open sea.

Three grey whales had become trapped under the ice north of Alaska. Aided by the US Air Force and Soviet ice-breakers, local Inuits succeeded in leading two of them back to the open sea.

Three grey whales had become trapped under the ice north of Alaska. Aided by the US Air Force and Soviet ice-breakers, local Inuits succeeded in leading two of them back to the open sea.

Oskar Barnack Award - Individual awards