Julia Petrik: A real whale rider

Gliding through the ocean in temperatures below freezing, she swims effortlessly through the water with nothing to help her breathe.

After entering the water she grabbed hold of a  passing Beluga Whale for a lift - a moment captured  by British photographer Dan Burton.

And the Beluga Whale seems to be managing pretty well too.

This is the extraordinary moment when the graceful mammal bumped into a free diver swimming in Russia's White Sea.

Julia Petrik, had to cut through ice one foot thick to get in to the -2C (28F) water off the north-west coast of the country.

Miss Petrik, 38, one of the world's top free divers, swims underwater with no air tanks and can hold her breath for up to two minutes.

After entering the water she grabbed hold of a passing Beluga Whale for a lift - a moment captured by British photographer Dan Burton.

After entering the water she grabbed hold of a passing Beluga Whale  for a lift - a moment captured by British photographer Dan Burton.