Norwegian skiier Ivar Formo dead at 55

OSLO, Norway, Dec. 27 (UPI) -- Olympic ski champion Ivar Formo, 55, has drowned while ice skating north of Oslo, Norway.

Formo won four Olympic medals and two World Cup medals in cross-country skiing, Norway's Aftenposten reported.

"Ivar Formo was taken up through a channel in the ice at Store Sandungen in Nordmarka at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday night," said Ellen Ulvin of the Oslo police.

The 55 year old was supposed to meet his wife after a combined skating and running trip through the forest. When he didn't show up a search operation was carried out.

The search operation included two helicopters, rescue dogs and 10 police vehicles and motorcycles.

Formo's body was found frozen under the ice by divers.