Vermont Trooper Jumps Into Frozen Pond To Save Child Trapped Under Ice

January 19, 2026

A heart-stopping body-cam video captures the moment two Vermont State Troopers raced against time to save a child who had fallen through an icy pond.

An 80-year-old homeowner rushed into action and was able to pull one child to safety. Tragically, the second child slipped beneath the icy surface before anyone else could reach her.

Moments later, Trooper Michelle Archer arrived on scene. Without hesitation, she spotted the child under the water and ran straight into the frozen pond, breaking through the ice to pull her out. Trooper Keith Cote then carried the child to waiting EMS crews, who immediately began lifesaving care.

Thanks to the incredibly quick thinking, bravery, and teamwork of everyone involved, the child made a full recovery. Both troopers, along with the heroic homeowner, were later honored for their lifesaving actions.

"Just knowing that she made a full recovery and is going to be okay is a big relief," Archer said.

"Getting a call the following day from the Captain that the child is going to make a full recovery and not have any lasting medical effects made my transition of coming back and doing the daily duties of a trooper much easier," Cote added.

The video captures the intense rescue and the remarkable teamwork that turned what could have been a tragedy into a miracle outcome.