Two men died after falling through the ice of an upstate New York lake during an ice fishing trip — with the only survivor a 6-year-old boy who miraculously walked home, authorities said Monday.
Bryan LaPlante, 33, of Newton Falls, and 48-year-old Michael Booth, of Oswegatchie, and the youngster were out fishing on Chaumont Pond in St. Lawrence County on Sunday when their snowmobile broke through the ice, state police said in a press release.
Unaware of the tragedy, a relative, Patrick LaPlante, 51, grew worried and went out looking for the trio and spotted Bryan LaPlante in the icy water, according to the troopers.
Police did not reveal what the relationship was between the two men.
However, they said the older man crawled toward Bryan LaPlante as he struggled in the water — only to fall through the ice himself, the press release said.
He was able to climb out of the water but lost sight of the two missing men.
Police, who responded to the scene around 7:40 p.m. said Patrick LaPlante had returned home to warm up — when the 6-year-old boy suddenly showed up at the home drenched and freezing — but alive — after walking from the scene of the frigid and deadly mishap by himself.
Both were taken to Clinton-Fine Hospital and treated for hypothermia.
Meanwhile, state police rushed to the pond and located Bryan LaPlante and Booth, who were unresponsive and still in the water, plucking the two out and performing CPR.
Both were taken to Gouverneur Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
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