This footage was filmed and produced 17 December 2023.

In a heartwarming turn of events, an 8-year-old girl from Cambridge has made a full recovery after a harrowing incident where she fell through the ice into a pond on East View Road last month. The incident unfolded on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, as the girl and her siblings were playing near the pond on private property.

Thin ice proved treacherous, causing two children to fall into the frigid water. The quick response of an 80-year-old homeowner saved a 6-year-old near the shore, but the 8-year-old was stranded in the center of the deep pond. Trooper Michelle Archer, on routine patrol nearby, arrived within five minutes of the 911 call. Without hesitation, she entered the freezing pond, using a throw rope and flotation device to reach and secure the girl.

Trooper Keith Cote assisted in bringing the rescued girl to a waiting Cambridge Rescue ambulance. Despite initially life-threatening injuries, the girl made a complete recovery after being treated at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington.

Vermont State Police leaders commend Troopers Archer and Cote, along with the courageous homeowner, recommending them for the agency's Lifesaving Award in recognition of their selfless and heroic actions.