Dad Dives Into Freezing Vermont River to Save Dog from Drowning

A brave father risks his life by jumping into a freezing Vermont river to rescue a struggling dog, sparking an emotional reunion. 🌐 #News #BerlinVT #Vermont #Rescue

BERLIN, VT – In a truly breathtaking act of courage, Chris MacRitchie didn’t think twice when he saw a dog fighting to stay alive in a freezing Vermont river. With no hesitation, he plunged into the icy waters, determined to rescue the helpless animal. What followed was a dramatic rescue that unfolded in Berlin on Friday afternoon. Captured on video by his son, the footage quickly spread across social media, capturing the hearts of viewers everywhere.

The Start of a Life-Saving Decision

The chain of events began innocently enough. MacRitchie and his son were in the drive-thru of a Dunkin’ Donuts, unaware of the life-or-death situation they would soon find themselves in. When they arrived at the embankment of the Winooski River, MacRitchie spotted the struggling dog, and without a second thought, he knew what he had to do.

“It was like one of those moments everyone probably has in their life like you’re going to make a decision,” MacRitchie said.

“I felt I was obligated to at least try to fetch this dog out of the river, as I have two dogs myself, and I would hope someone would do that for them if they were in that spot.”

A Daring Rescue in Frigid Waters

The video shows MacRitchie dressed in a T-shirt, sweats, and boots, stepping carefully towards the river. His wife can be heard urging him to go further, and without flinching, he wades through the freezing cold water toward the dog, who is stuck on the other side of a frozen tributary.

As he reaches the dog, the cold is evident in his gasps, but his resolve never falters. MacRitchie lifts the dog out of the water, carrying it to safety and handing it over to his wife, who quickly wraps the shivering animal in a sweatshirt.

Facing the Unknown

Despite the freezing temperatures, MacRitchie said the greatest concern he had wasn’t the chill of the water but the uncertainty of how deep the river was.

“The only real stress I had about it wasn’t getting in the cold water. It was the depth. I did not know if it was 20 feet deep or it was 2 feet deep,” he recalled.

“When I broke through and I got on my feet and it was like waist-high, I was actually relieved by that. In my mind, during the moment, I thought, ‘OK this isn’t that bad. Yeah, it’s cold, but I feel this is a very doable situation.’”

A Heartfelt Reunion

After the rescue, MacRitchie reached out to the dog’s owner, Morgan Cerasoli, whose contact information was on the dog’s tag. Cerasoli had been desperately searching for her 7-year-old mutt, Arizona, ever since Thursday.

“I started crying, and I told him, ‘Oh, my God, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you. Let me pull a U-turn and I’m coming right back,’” Cerasoli said, her voice filled with emotion as she sat beside Arizona, who had mostly recovered.

As Cerasoli watched the video of the rescue, the tears flowed once again.

“It’s brave, it’s selfless, it’s commendable. It’s everything that I think that we were on this Earth to be,” she said.

“Sometimes it feels like that’s very rare these days.”

The Power of a Single Act of Kindness

What began as a routine day turned into an unforgettable display of bravery, reminding us all of the incredible impact one person’s actions can have. MacRitchie’s selflessness has left a lasting impression on those who witnessed the event, both online and in person.

RELATED TOPICS: Accidents and Rescues | Animals | Heartwarming News | Vermont