In a heart-stopping moment of bravery, an Upstate New York man plunged into frigid waters this month to save a baby deer that was desperately battling for its life. This heroic act unfolded when 24-year-old Eric Shutter received a call from his mother about a fawn struggling in the icy depths of Irondequoit Bay, located just outside Rochester.
Without hesitation, Shutter jumped into action, swimming through the chilling water to reach the frightened creature. His initial attempt to lift the fawn onto the ice so it could escape back to the shore was met with resistance, as the scared deer repeatedly dashed back into the water. After several tense moments, Shutter ultimately succeeded in bringing the small animal to safety.
Authorities have cautioned that entering icy waters poses significant risks. However, Shutter shared with RochesterFirst that he felt compelled to assist. "It was a small deer, and it had been in there for a while. We figured it only had a minute or two left, and it was slowing down, so I thought I’d just hop in and grab it," he explained.
He recounted the numbness that set in as the icy water affected his body, turning his lips, fingers, and toes purple due to the extreme cold. According to the National Weather Service, immersing oneself in water temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit can induce cold shock, a potentially fatal condition that may arise well before hypothermia develops. This kind of exposure can lead to involuntary gasping and rapid breathing, which significantly increases the risk of drowning if a person inhales water and is unable to stay afloat.
When asked if he would undertake such a daring rescue again, Shutter confidently expressed that he would.
This remarkable rescue is part of a series of animal-saving stories reported in Upstate New York recently. Other rescues include cows being saved from a burning barn and a dog being retrieved from the Erie Canal after its owner fell into the water.
Sunny Hernandez, the author of this piece, is a graduate of Syracuse University. Once a food blogger, she has transitioned to journalism and now focuses on highlighting the captivating and noteworthy stories that Upstate New York has to offer.
