NEWTON FALLS, New York (WWNY) – State police have released the names of the people who fell through the ice Sunday in St. Lawrence County, leaving 2 dead and 2 others suffering from hypothermia.<\/p>\n
Troopers said 33-year-old Bryan LaPlante of Newton Falls and 48-year-old Michael Booth of Oswegatchie died.<\/p>\n
They said 51-year-old Patrick LaPlante and an unnamed 6-year-old boy were treated at Clifton-Fine Hospital for hypothermia.<\/p>\n
St. Lawrence County Emergency Services Director Richard Rusaw believes the group was returning from ice fishing when their snowmobile broke through the ice.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was ice fishing equipment that was floating in one of the open holes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Police investigation<\/p>\n
At 7:40 p.m. Sunday, police said they received a report that a snowmobile had fallen through the ice.<\/p>\n
Troopers said their investigation found that 3 people were ice fishing Sunday on Chaumont Pond, which is connected to the Oswegatchie River in the town of Clifton. <\/p>\n
According to police, Patrick LaPlante learned the 3 had not returned from fishing and went to the area to check on them.<\/p>\n
Troopers said he found Bryan LaPlante in the water. Patrick crawled to him to rescue him, but also fell through the ice.<\/p>\n
He was able to get out of the water and report the incident to emergency responders.<\/p>\n
Police said Patrick LaPlante returned to his home to warm up. <\/p>\n
According to troopers, the 6-year-old boy arrived at his house shortly after, having walked there from the scene.<\/p>\n
Both Patrick LaPlante and the child were taken to the hospital.<\/p>\n
Police said rescue crews found Bryan LaPlante and Michael Booth unresponsive in the water. <\/p>\n
The men were taken to Gouverneur Hospital with CPR in progress. They were later pronounced dead.<\/p>\n
A slightly different story<\/p>\n
According to a person close to the situation, the child, his father, and a friend of the father were on a snowmobile when it fell through the ice.<\/p>\n
The father was able to lift his child out of the water, but wasn\u2019t able get himself or his friend out.<\/p>\n
The child walked nearly 2 miles to get help and call 911. <\/p>\n
7 News was told that the child found their grandfather, who rushed to the scene, where he also fell through the ice. He was able to get out of the water.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were members of our community and belonged to hunting clubs with some of the members, so it\u2019s tough. Absolutely, we\u2019re looking at doing a stress debrief for all those that were involved,\u201d said Rusaw.<\/p>\n
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