Icebreaker forced to turn back seven miles from icebound ship

A Chinese icebreaker trying to rescue a ship trapped in Antarctic ice was forced to turn back after being unable to push its way through the heavy sea ice.

The Snow Dragon came within seven miles of the Russian ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy, which has been stuck since Christmas Eve, but had to retreat after the ice became too thick, said expedition spokesman Alvin Stone.