A seasonal ice skating rink in Milton Keynes, England, has unexpectedly gained a peculiar attraction a bright pink iPhone frozen beneath two inches of ice. The phone has become a center of attention at the Willen on Ice rink, drawing skaters to pause mid-glide and marvel at the trapped device.
The story behind the frozen phone adds to its charm. During the rink’s setup, a workman borrowed his daughter’s phone for a day, only to accidentally leave it on the surface before the rink was flooded and frozen overnight. By the time his coworkers noticed the phone embedded in the ice, it was too late to retrieve it without damaging the carefully prepared rink.
Rob Cook, director at Ice Leisure, the company managing the rink, explained the dilemma: “If we were to dig it out, it would affect the structure of the ice, so it’ll remain entombed for the next two months.” Resurfacing the ice to recover the phone would be both costly and time-consuming, leaving no practical solution. The forgetful workman had to confess to his daughter, who was initially upset, especially since she had just bought a new phone case. However, the promise of a temporary replacement phone helped smooth things over. “I’ve promised her that if the phone doesn’t work once thawed, I’ll buy her a new one,” he said.
Skaters have turned the pink iPhone into a quirky attraction, with many stopping to snap pictures of the unusual sight. While the Pro-model iPhone’s fate remains uncertain prolonged exposure to freezing conditions and water likely spells doom for the device it has become a charming conversation piece. Willen on Ice staff will need to ensure it stays intact, as curious visitors are tempted to chip at the ice to retrieve it. For now, the bright pink iPhone rests beneath the rink, a frozen tale of forgetfulness turned unexpected attraction.
