Adult. Male. The first real frost in more than a year became this poor animal's destiny. Without knowing exactly what happened, it is very likely that it got trapped on the dike when large number of people started to show up during the beautiful morning. Freezing northern wind but with a clear sky and the sun burning on a weekend day, it was inevitable that people wanted to get out to enjoy it. Even more so during the pandemic restrictions. I guess the panic got it and it tried to cross the canal unwillingly.
I got to the spot only after others had been watching it struggling to get out of the cold water for 45 minutes! They had already called the police, but I decided to call the park ranger directly thinking he would be a faster help. He responded and took off instantly. He lives on the other side of Kongelunden a few kilometers away.
It took him the good part of 10 minutes to arrive, but it was too late. 5 minutes earlier the deer had finally surrendered to the cold water, and had closed its eyes for the last time.
Not that it would have helped it much if the ranger had arrived earlier. His perspective on the situation obviously had been completely different from ours standing there on the dike feeling for the animal, hoping that it could be saved.
He had brought his rifle, and even if it hadn't been dead on his arrival he would have shot it. And I understand his reasoning. Without the real equipment to get such a large animal out of the water, it was the only solution. RIP.