Abstract: An emergency aid is provided along with a recovery method incorporating same for use by a person who has fallen through the surface of a frozen body of water. The aid includes a pair of support elements that each have a hand grip. Each support element includes at least one tooth for limiting lateral movement of the element relative to the ice surface. The support elements are releasably connected together along a common axis. In first and second embodiments of the invention, a bore is defined in at least one of the hand grips for receiving a corresponding portion of the other hand grip. In a third embodiment of the invention a collar surrounds both hand grips. The recovery method comprises the steps of accessing the emergency aid, disconnecting the support elements, thrusting the teeth of the support elements into the ice surface, and pulling upon the hand grips to move oneself onto the ice surface.