A six-year-old boy trekked nearly two miles through freezing conditions to seek help after his father and a family friend fell through the ice on a pond in upstate New York and later died.
New York State Police said the incident occurred on Sunday evening, January 18, shortly before 8 pm at Chaumont Pond in St. Lawrence County. Authorities were alerted after receiving reports that a snowmobile carrying multiple people had broken through the ice.
Investigators said 33-year-old Bryan P. LaPlante, his six-year-old son, and family friend Michael J. Booth, 48, had been ice fishing on the pond. While heading back, their snowmobile gave way beneath them, sending all three into the icy water.
Family members told local media that LaPlante managed to lift his son out of the water but could not save himself. Before losing strength, he reportedly instructed the boy to walk toward his grandparents’ house and call 911, telling him to “follow the moon” to find his way.
The child followed those instructions, walking almost two miles in the cold until he reached his grandfather, Patrick R. LaPlante, 51. Patrick rushed to the pond in an attempt to help, but he too fell through the ice during the rescue effort. He was able to pull himself out but lost sight of the two men in the water.
Rescue teams later recovered Bryan LaPlante and Michael Booth from the pond. Both were unresponsive and were pronounced dead at Gouverneur Hospital despite attempts to revive them.
The six-year-old boy and his grandfather were treated for hypothermia at Clifton-Fine Hospital and later discharged.
Bryan LaPlante’s sister later wrote on Facebook that her brother “died saving his son,” calling everyone involved a hero and praising the child’s bravery in making the long walk to get help.
An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
