Don Chatten was out walking his two dogs in Buffalo, New York, on a bitterly cold day when a woman asked for his help finding her small dog.He didn’t hesitate to help her but when he finally located the missing pooch, he realized the danger and knew he had to act fast.The dog had fallen into icy waters in Ellicott Creek Park and Don knew he didn’t have much time if he was going to save her.

According to WKBW News, Don called 911 but fear they may be too late decided to rescue the dog himself. He tried to crawl across the ice, but it gave way plunging him waist-deep into the icy waters.“I knew it wasn’t real deep in this part because I used to come here when I was a kid,” Don told WKBW News. The shivering dog was then taken to the vet to be checked over, according to the news station.