A 6-year-old boy walked through the cold to reach his grandfather’s home for help after his father and another man died when they fell through the ice during an outing on a northern New York pond.
New York State Police said they were called to County Route 60 in Clifton on Sunday, Jan. 18, just before 8 p.m. local time, after receiving a report that people riding a snowmobile had gone through the ice.
Investigators later determined that three people had been ice fishing on Chaumont Pond, which connects to the Oswegatchie River, authorities said. When the group didn’t return, officials said Patrick R. LaPlante, 51, went out to check on them. The group was identified as Bryan P. LaPlante, 33, Michael J. Booth, 48, and a 6-year-old boy.
At the scene, Patrick found Bryan in the water after he had fallen through the ice. As Patrick tried to rescue him, he also broke through. Though Patrick managed to pull himself out, he couldn’t locate Booth or the child — his grandson — according to CBS affiliate WWNY.
After making it back home, Patrick reported what happened and called 911. State police responded to the pond along with fire and rescue crews, plus the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, officials said.
Not long after the call, the 6-year-old boy arrived at his grandfather’s home on his own. Both he and Patrick were taken to Clifton-Fine Hospital and treated for hypothermia.
Rescue teams later found Bryan and Booth in the water, state police said. Both were unresponsive. They were brought to Gouverneur Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The investigation remains ongoing.
