A Saturday joyride on a Vermont lake turned tragic when a vehicle carrying a family of four broke through the ice, leaving a 3-year-old boy clinging to life. The incident occurred at Lake Memphremagog in Newport, where the group plunged into icy waters after their 2019 Honda Pioneer 1000 sank to the lake's bottom.
Authorities were alerted about the incident around 5 p.m., and upon their arrival, they found all four individuals had managed to escape the frigid waters. According to a report by Boston.com, "Three people ran toward officers while pulling a black sled, in which a man was administering chest compressions to a 3-year-old child who had fallen through the ice." In a heart-wrenching sprint against time, an officer encouraged the man to continue the resuscitative efforts while pulling the sled to shore.
The dire situation required swift action from Newport Ambulance Service and Newport City Fire Department, which responded to assist in the rescue. The critical child was rushed to North Country Hospital, where his fight for survival continues. As reported by The Boston Globe, the young boy remained in critical condition as of yesterday, testimony to the severity of his ordeal.
Meanwhile, the other three victims, who suffered from “a state of exhaustion/hypothermia," were aided by officers and transported to the hospital by bystanders, escorted by a police officer. Newport Police Chief Travis Bingham stated that they were treated for "minor injuries" and released the same day. It's a stark contrast to the continued struggle faced by the youngest victim, his fate hanging precariously in the balance.
The Newport Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding this grave episode, as a community holds its breath and a family prays for a child's tender life.
