He Fell Through the Ice. His Dog Became the Rescue Line

On January 18, 2024, a Michigan police officer was trying to reach a man trapped in a frozen lake. He had a rope and rescue equipment, but there was one big problem. The equipment couldn’t reach the man, and the ice was too weak for the officer to get any closer.

Standing near the hole in the ice was the man’s dog, Ruby. And when Officer Kammeron Bennetts noticed her, he came up with an idea that would help save her owner’s life.

A Rescue That Almost Didn’t Reach

The trouble started around 11:45 that morning on Arbutus Lake in East Bay Township, Michigan. A 65-year-old man from Traverse City had fallen through the ice, and people watching from shore called 911.

By the time Bennetts arrived, the man was stuck in freezing water with only his head and part of his chest above the surface. Bennetts grabbed a rescue disc attached to a rope from his patrol vehicle and headed onto the lake.

The plan was to get the disc to the man so he could grab it and be pulled toward safety. Bennetts threw it as far as he could, but it landed about five to ten feet short.

Normally, someone might be able to work their way out of a hole by pushing against the surrounding ice. But this ice was soft and kept breaking whenever the man tried to lift himself. Bennetts couldn’t move closer without risking falling through himself.

He needed another way to get the disc across those last few feet.

Ruby Gets Called Into Action

That’s when Bennetts noticed Ruby standing near her owner. She was a Brittany, a breed of hunting dog, and she was still close to the man despite everything happening around her.

Bennetts called out to ask whether the dog would come to him. The man told him her name was Ruby, and when the officer started calling her, she came running across the ice.

Ruby arrived wagging her tail. Bennetts reached down, took hold of her collar and prepared to attach the rescue disc.

In an interview afterward, Bennetts remembered how quickly Ruby’s behavior changed. As soon as he grabbed her collar, she sat down and looked at him. The playful dog suddenly seemed ready to pay attention.

Bennetts clipped the disc to her collar, keeping it attached to the rescue rope. Then he shouted for the man to call Ruby back. She immediately headed toward her owner, carrying the equipment that Bennetts hadn’t been able to throw far enough.

When Ruby reached the hole, the man grabbed the disc from her collar.

Pulling Him Out of the Water

Now that the man had something to hold, Bennetts could finally begin pulling him toward safety. He shouted instructions, telling the man to kick his legs and bring his feet toward the surface.

It was still difficult. Every time the man tried to push himself up, the ice around him broke apart. Bennetts was having trouble getting enough traction to pull him free.

But he kept working the rope, gradually drawing the man closer. Eventually, Bennetts found enough solid ice to get one strong pull, lifting the man out of the water and onto the frozen surface.

A firefighter from Grand Traverse Metro Fire Department arrived to help with the final stretch. Together, they pulled the man across the ice until they could grab him and bring him to safety.

The entire rescue was captured on Bennetts’ body camera. The footage showed Ruby answering the calls, carrying the disc back and staying with her owner as rescuers worked to get him out.

Sixteen Minutes in Freezing Water

According to Michigan State Police, the man had spent approximately 16 minutes in the icy lake. Bennetts later explained that the man had been wearing a float coat, which he believed helped keep him above water long enough to be rescued.

Emergency crews took him by ambulance to Munson Medical Center, where he received treatment before being released. Ruby also came through the rescue unharmed.

Several emergency services had responded, including East Bay Township EMS and the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office. Bennetts and the firefighter had done the difficult work of pulling the man out, but Ruby had provided the help that made it possible.

Michigan State Police later shared the body-camera footage, praising the officer’s quick thinking and giving Ruby some well-deserved recognition.