Heroic Father Bryan Laplante Gave His Life to Save His 6‑Year‑Old Son

"Not a single one of these news stories are [sic] completely accurate," a grieving sister wrote after a snowmobile broke through the ice Sunday night during a winter outing in northern New York.

Authorities say the incident unfolded on a frozen body of water in St. Lawrence County, where multiple people were thrown into icy water, triggering an emergency response and a desperate fight for survival.

The incident left two men dead, a child walking miles alone in the dark for help, and a tight-knit community grappling with loss.

State police said they were called around 7:40 p.m. regarding a snowmobile that had fallen through the ice near Chaumont Pond, a body of water connected to the Oswegatchie River in the town of Clifton, St. Lawrence County.

When rescue crews arrived, they found a scene already shaped by desperate attempts to survive freezing conditions and rising panic. Two men were later pronounced dead at the hospital, while two others, including a young child, were treated for hypothermia.

A Search That Turned Into a Rescue Attempt

According to investigators, three people had gone ice fishing earlier that day. When they failed to return, 51-year-old Patrick LaPlante set out to find them.

Troopers said Patrick discovered his son, Bryan LaPlante, in the water after the snowmobile broke through the ice. Patrick attempted to reach Bryan by crawling across the ice, but it also gave way beneath him. He was able to pull himself out and later made it home to call for help and warm up, police said.

Shortly afterward, a 6-year-old boy arrived at Patrick's house on foot. Authorities said the child had walked nearly two miles from the scene in the freezing night to get help. Both Patrick and the boy were taken to Clifton-Fine Hospital for treatment.

Rescue crews later found Bryan and 48-year-old Michael Booth of Oswegatchie unresponsive in the water. CPR was performed as they were transported to Gouverneur Hospital, where both men were pronounced dead, according to state police.

St. Lawrence County Emergency Services Director Richard Rusaw said ice-fishing equipment was found floating in one of the open holes, supporting the belief that the group had been returning from fishing when the snowmobile failed.

"There was ice fishing equipment that was floating in one of the open holes," Rusaw said. "They were members of our community and belonged to hunting clubs with some of the members, so it's tough. Absolutely, we're looking at doing a stress debrief for all those that were involved."

A Slightly Different Account

A person close to the situation shared a slightly different account, saying the snowmobile carried a father, his young son, and a friend when it plunged into the icy water.

According to that version, the father was able to lift his child to safety but could not save himself or his friend.

The boy then walked nearly two miles alone to find help and call 911. He eventually reached his grandfather, who rushed back to the scene and also fell through the ice before managing to get out.

Remembering Bryan LaPlante

Bryan, 33, of Newton Falls, died on Sunday, January 18, 2026, according to his family’s memorial.

Born July 9, 1992, in Carthage, New York, Bryan was the son of Patrick and Michele (Richards) LaPlante and a 2010 graduate of Clifton-Fine Central School.

He worked at several local businesses over the years, most recently as a cook at the Cranberry Lake Biological Station. Family members described him as a true North Country outdoorsman who loved hunting, fishing, riding ATVs, woodworking, and knife making.

He is survived by his parents, his three children, Briann, Addison, and Ryker LaPlante, his sister Paige LaPlante, his grandparents, and his extended family.

In a January 3, 2025, Facebook post, Bryan reflected on his personal journey, sharing that he was more than two months into sobriety, a milestone loved ones say marked a period of growth and renewed focus on his family.

Family Pushes Back on Early Accounts

Bryan's sister, Paige, addressed the tragedy directly in an emotional Facebook post, pushing back on what she described as incomplete or inaccurate reporting:

"What everyone should take away from this tragedy, it was never because of poor decisions. My brother died saving his son. My nephew made it home because Boothy told him to follow the moon to get back to memes."

"Every single person in this story was a hero. I have never been more proud of every single one of them," she added.

A Father's Final Act

As investigators continue to piece together the precise sequence of events, one fact has resonated across the community: a child survived because his father put him first.

Bryan, family members say, gave his life lifting his 6-year-old son out of the freezing water, a final act of protection that allowed the boy to walk miles through the dark and make it home alive.

Private services will be held for Bryan. His family has asked that donations in his memory be made to the Star Lake Fire and Rescue Squad and the Cranberry Lake Fire Department.

For many, the tragedy has become a sobering reminder of the dangers winter conditions can pose, even to those most familiar with the outdoors. Yet amid the grief, family members and community leaders alike have emphasized a different legacy, one defined not by how the incident began, but by how it unfolded.

They point to courage in freezing water, determination in the dark, and a father's instinct to protect his child at all costs. As the community mourns and investigators work to close the case, Bryan is being remembered not only for the life he lived but for the final choice he made, one that ensured his son's survival and left an enduring mark on everyone who knew him.