At a Glance
- A 6-year-old walked nearly two miles in freezing temperatures after his father and family friend fell through ice while ice fishing.
- Bryan P. LaPlante, 33, and Michael J. Booth, 48, died after their snowmobile crashed through Chaumont Pond near the Oswegatchie River.
- The boy and his grandfather, Patrick R. LaPlante, 51, survived with hypothermia after attempting a rescue.
Why it matters: The child’s solo trek across a dark, frozen landscape saved his life and led rescuers to the scene, highlighting the hidden dangers of winter recreation.
A quiet Sunday evening on an upstate New York lake turned fatal when a snowmobile carrying three ice fishers plunged through thin ice, leaving a first-grader to trudge alone through sub-freezing air to summon help.
The chain of events began shortly before 8 p.m. on January 18 when New York State Police received a call about a snowmobile that had disappeared beneath the surface of Chaumont Pond in Clifton, St. Lawrence County. Officers arrived at County Route 60 to find a scene of confusion and rapidly dropping temperatures.
According to the state police release, Bryan P. LaPlante, 33, his friend Michael J. Booth, 48, and LaPlante’s 6-year-old son had set out earlier that day to fish through holes drilled in the frozen pond, which links to the Oswegatchie River. When the trio failed to return home, Patrick R. LaPlante, 51-Bryan’s father and the boy’s grandfather-drove to the shoreline to check on them.
Patrick spotted Bryan struggling in the open water and tried to reach him, only to crash through the ice himself. He managed to haul himself back onto solid footing but could not locate Booth or his young grandson in the darkness. The grandfather retreated to his house and dialed 911.
While emergency crews from the state police, local fire departments, and the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department raced toward the pond, the soaked and shivering first-grader appeared at Patrick’s door, having walked nearly two miles across fields and forest to the only place he knew help could be found.
Rescuers transported both the boy and Patrick to Clifton-Fine Hospital for treatment of hypothermia. Search teams soon located Bryan and Booth unresponsive in the frigid water, pulled them out, and rushed them to Gouverneur Hospital, where doctors pronounced both men dead.
Authorities have not released the exact distance the child traveled or how long he was exposed to temperatures that dipped well below freezing, but they credit his perseverance with keeping the situation from becoming an even larger loss of life.
An investigation into the thickness of the ice, the snowmobile’s speed, and other contributing factors continues. News Of Los Angeles has reached out to state police for any updates.
Key Takeaways
- Check ice thickness before riding or walking on frozen lakes; 4 inches is the minimum for foot travel, 5-7 inches for snowmobiles.
- Carry ice picks, rope, and flotation gear when traveling on frozen water.
- Teach children emergency plans-the boy knew exactly where to go for help.
- Never venture onto ice alone; the buddy system saves lives.
