Ratt checked to see if he was breathing before managing to push him back onto the ice. The boy then drove to the safety of the shore and Ratt carried him to the store.

Ratt said the whole situation lasted about seven minutes. She said she didn’t have time to wait for help to arrive, so she took action.

“It was scary. This is one of my fears every frost season. I always worry about the kids checking the ice cream. The ice, right now, is less than an inch thick and you can see it clearly when you walk on the ice,” Ratt said.

“I just can’t believe it myself. You don’t really think about it when you’re doing it and it goes by so quickly.

The child was transported to La Ronge via EMS and was in stable condition.

Lac La Ronge Indian Band Chief Tammy Cook-Searson was on her way to Stanley Mission when five RCMP vehicles passed her on the highway. She followed them to Sucker River, where she learned what had happened.

“We are deeply grateful to Elaine for her quick thinking, courage and selflessness. We are also so grateful to the young boy who ran to the store to get help for his friend,” Cook-Searson wrote on social media, calling Ratt a true hero.

“A sincere thank you also to the local fire departments, RCMP and emergency medical services for their quick response and support. The community is incredibly fortunate to have such dedicated individuals looking out for each other.

Sucker River Fire Chief Maurice Ratt also thanked Elaine for her courage on Sunday. He said she exceeded the bounds of her duty before firefighters could arrive on scene.

“(We would like to) remind members of our community to keep an eye on their children during this freezing period. The ice is very (thin) and dangerous,” he noted.

“Please avoid walking on any new ice that forms along this river. »

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