In the freezing darkness of an upstate New York winter night, a 6-year-old boy did the unthinkable. After a snowmobile broke through the ice during an ice-fishing trip, his father and a friend disappeared into the freezing water. Alone and terrified, the child walked nearly two miles to his grandfather’s home to get help. By the time rescuers arrived, both men had died. The boy and his grandfather were hospitalized for hypothermia — shaken, but alive. It’s a heartbreaking reminder of how fast routine outings can turn fatal, and how extraordinary courage can emerge in the smallest moments.

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6-Year-Old Boy Walks to His Grandfather’s House for Help After Dad and Friend Die Falling Through Ice

The group was ice fishing when their snowmobile broke through the ice

Frozen lake
Frozen lake
NEED TO KNOW
  • A 6-year-old boy walked nearly two miles to get help after his father and his friend fell through the ice in upstate New York.
  • The group of three was ice fishing when their snowmobile broke through the ice, authorities said
  • The two men died, while the boy and his grandfather, who tried to rescue the two men, were transported to a hospital to be treated for hypothermia

A 6-year-old boy walked in the cold to his grandfather’s house to get help after his father and a friend died after falling through ice.

6-year-old survives while two men died in ice fishing accident

On Sunday, Jan. 18, just before 8 p.m. local time, New York State Police said in a release that authorities responded to County Route 60 in Clifton “for a report of individuals riding a snowmobile that had gone through the ice.”

An investigation determined that three people were ice fishing on Chaumont Pond, which is connected to the Oswegatchie River, according to officials. After being informed that the three had not returned, authorities said Patrick R. LaPlante, 51, went to the area to check on the group, identified as Bryan P. LaPlante, 33, Michael J. Booth, 48, and a 6-year-old boy.

There, Patrick found Bryan, who had fallen through the ice, but in trying to rescue him, the 51-year-old man fell through the ice himself. Though Patrick was able to pull himself from the water, he could not locate Booth or the boy, who is his grandson, according to CBS affiliate WWNY.

Patrick reported the incident after returning home, and New York State Police responded to the scene, alongside fire and rescue personnel and the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department, officials added.

The 6-year-old boy arrived at his grandpa’s home shortly after the man called 911, and both were then taken to Clifton-Fine Hospital to be treated for hypothermia.

Rescue crews found both Bryan and Booth, who were both unresponsive in the water, state police said. They were removed and transported to Gouverneur Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing.

PEOPLE has reached out to state police for additional comment.