Jack France

Jack France helped save Charles Grenier from drowning, Cheboygan, Michigan, March 10, 2025. Grenier, 73, was riding his utility task vehicle across thin ice on the Black River when it broke through the ice and sank 13 feet to the bottom. He unbuckled his seat belt and swam to the surface, where he clung to the ice and shouted for help in the frigid water. France, 28, irrigation company vice president, and his friend, 27, were ice fishing on the other side of the river and saw Grenier plunge through the ice. They jumped on France’s all-terrain vehicle, raced 600 feet, parked on thick ice, and then ran and walked another 300 feet across increasingly thin ice toward Grenier. As they approached, the friend crouched down and crawled on the ice to spread out his weight. The friend then reached out to grab Grenier’s hands, but the ice broke under him and he tumbled into the water head first, followed by France. In the water, France and the friend moved to either side of Grenier and grabbed his arms and tried unsuccessfully to lift him onto the crumbling ice. As Grenier grew more lethargic from the cold water, the friend managed to crawl out onto the ice by himself while holding Grenier’s arm. He spread out on the ice on his belly and pulled Grenier toward him by his arm. At the same time, France pushed on Grenier from behind. The two men eventually pulled and pushed Grenier onto the ice, where the friend dragged him to safety on thicker ice. France was then able to claw his way out onto the ice. All three lay exhausted on the ice, but none was injured. They later recovered at France’s house.

2025-0000226-10522