PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – A huge crowd took part in this year’s Polar Bear Plunge Tuesday morning.

Hundreds of people headed to the Mon Wharf to brave the chilly temperatures and jump in the river.

KDKA-TV’s Heather Abraham was among the people taking the plunge.

She didn’t realize how crazy that decision was until she was just about to enter the water. Of course, at that point it was too late.

After splashing into the river, Abraham said she does not think she has ever doggy-paddled so fast.

“It was awful. It was awful,” she said.

However, her sentiments weren’t felt by all.

“Oh, it’s a wonderful day to be a polar bear,” Frank Nelson said.

The water temperature was a balmy 36 degrees on this snowy New Year’s Day, but it didn’t matter to a group of women who showed up in bikinis.

“Why not? If you’re [going to] jump in, you might as well go all out,” one girl said.

Nelson, president of the Pittsburgh Polar Bears, ensured that everyone would be in safe hands as they participated in the event.

“Paramedics will be here for you,” Nelson said.

It was 9:30 a.m. at the Mon Wharf when everyone cannonballed into the water. Many ran out quickly, while others stuck around.

There must be something in the water to make people come back year after year.

“It’s just the way to start the year off. Five years, nothing went wrong yet. We’re going to go for six next year,” Jeff Bronowicz said.\

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