On a cold Saturday afternoon in Iowa, 17-year-old Joe Salmon was ice fishing with his mother near East Okoboji Lake. Suddenly, he saw a Jeep break through the ice and begin to sink. Inside the car were 83-year-old Thomas Lee and his dog, Cooper

On a cold Saturday afternoon in Iowa, 17-year-old Joe Salmon was ice fishing with his mother near East Okoboji Lake. Suddenly, he saw a Jeep break through the ice and begin to sink. Inside the car were 83-year-old Thomas Lee and his dog, Cooper.

 

Without wasting time, Joe called 911 and jumped into the freezing water. The icy lake reached his chest as he climbed onto the back of the sinking vehicle. The doors were locked, so someone handed him a knife. Joe smashed the rear window until it broke.

 

First, Joe rescued Cooper and passed the dog to others standing on solid ice. Then he returned to help Thomas Lee, whose foot was stuck inside the car. Joe lifted the center console and freed him. With help from nearby strangers, Lee was pulled safely onto the ice.

 

Both the man and his dog survived without injury. Joe walked away with only small cuts—and a heroic story he never expected to live.