By John Agar
mlive.com
GRAND TRAVERSE COUNTY, Mich. — A state police motor carrier officer rescued a man who had fallen through the ice with help of the man’s dog.
“Great team work and well done,” state police said on X.
The officer, Kammeron Bennetts, and the man’s dog, Ruby, rescued the 65-year-old Traverse City man who had broken through the ice on Arbutus Lake in Grand Traverse County’s East Bay Township.
Witnesses called 911 around 11:45 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 18 , to report a man had fallen through the ice.
Grand Traverse County: Body-cam footage captures daring ice rescue by MSP Motor Carrier Officer Kammeron Bennetts with the help of the victim’s dog Ruby. Great team work and well done! https://t.co/uTblTv3bhV pic.twitter.com/NDKKHZnysu
— MSP Seventh District (@mspnorthernmi) January 18, 2024
Bennetts grabbed a rescue disc, attached to a rope, from his patrol vehicle. He started to walk onto the ice but was not sure if he could reach the man. Eventually, he had to stop because of poor ice conditions.
“I’m gonna try to send this out to you, OK?” the officer said.
Then, he said: “Send your pup here. Will she come to me? Ruby, come here. Come here, Ruby.”
The dog ran to the officer. Bennetts attached the disc and rope to the dog’s collar. He told the man to call his dog. Ruby ran to her owner who grabbed the disc. The officer pulled the rope and told the man: “I need you to kick your feet. … Bring your feet up to the surface by kicking your feet.”
Bennetts and Grand Traverse Metro firefighter pulled the man, on his belly, to safety.
The man had been in the water about 16 minutes. He was taken by ambulance to Munson Medical Center in Traverse City and later released. State police said that Bennetts’ quick action, with help of Ruby, saved the man, who was not identified.
Other agencies that responded were East Bay Township EMS, Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office and Grand Traverse County Fire Department.
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