Mom-of-four, 45, disappears in frozen Alaska river after she swam under the ice to save her rescue dog which fell through a hole while walking with her husband on their wedding anniversary

At dawn, the search resumes for the body of an Alaskan mother of four who disappeared while swimming under the ice of a frozen river in a desperate attempt to save her drowning dog.

Amanda Richmond Rogers, 45, was walking north of Anchorage with her dog Groot and her husband Brian Rogers on December 23, their 18th wedding anniversary.

Groot fell through a small hole in the ice of the frozen Eagle River after stopping for a drink, and first Brian and then Amanda followed him into the water.

“She didn't jump in to save 'just a dog,' it was a family member,” Rogers, 49, said in a statement.

“To me and our four boys, she died a hero.”

Amanda Richmond Rogers with her family Liam Rogers, 16, Leif Thurmond, 25, August Rogers, 15, Brian Rogers, 49, and Bodhi Rogers, 10

Rescuers risked their own lives to find the missing mother in the Eagle River

Relatives were heading to the family's nearby home for the first Christmas since her father's death earlier this year.

The couple had been visiting friends along the route of the North Fork Eagle River Trailhead and had a “great time” at one of Amanda's favorite spots, Rogers said.

But their joy turned to horror when their beloved Irish Wolfhound fell through the hole and they ran across the ice.

“I thought I saw a flash of a big white paw under the ice,” Rogers said.

'Before I even thought about it, I jumped in the water to save our dog. I held on to the edge of the ice as I frantically dove beneath the ice and reached into the darkness, trying to feel and grab our dog.

'I didn't feel anything. I ran out of breath and jumped out of the opening.

“I took four steps downstream to look for the dog through the ice again. I turned around and Amanda stepped into the water.

“I knew by the look on her face that she was going in to save our dog.

“She's an emergency room nurse, trained to help and save people. I screamed, but I doubt she even heard me as she was completely focused on saving the dog.

'Before I could get back to the opening to grab her, I saw her swimming downstream under the ice and then disappearing from view.

The harsh Arctic weather has hampered even experienced search and rescue teams

Search efforts will resume at first light using underwater drones and sonar equipment

'I waited and waited and am still waiting.

“For anyone wondering why we would jump in to save our dog, I can only answer: our instincts took over and we went in without thinking.”

Alaska State Troopers, the state Dive Search, Rescue and Recovery Team, Solstice Search and Alaska Wildlife Troopers have all assisted in the search since the alarm was raised early Saturday afternoon.

Some rescuers had to halt their efforts early Tuesday after equipment froze in the bitter Arctic weather. Underwater drones, sonar equipment and specialized rescue dogs will be deployed when the search resumes on Wednesday.

“It's certainly a tragic event for the family, our thoughts are with them, especially with the Christmas holidays so close,” said Austin McDaniel of the Alaska State Troopers.

“But our focus is on finding the missing woman so the family can have some closure.”

The couple met when they both worked as medics in Texas, but settled permanently in Alaska when Rogers was deployed there by the Air Force.

“Amanda loved her dogs almost as much as she loved our children, they were our family,” he said.

'We have a room in our house dedicated to the memory of all our previous dogs. We have tattoos of our dog's paws.

“Amanda has about 35,000 photos and videos on her phone from our 18 years of marriage, and the majority of them are of our dogs.”

Rogers said he was overwhelmed by the “incredible” support his family has received from their community, and that they are “blessed to live in such a special place.”

“Amanda was a wonderful mother and raised four wonderful children,” he added.

“She worked as an emergency room nurse, death scene investigator and pediatric hospice nurse, but the job she excelled at was being a mother.

The dog is also still missing, despite both owners risking their lives to save it

“She enjoyed the outdoors, her family, all the animals and adventure. She has impacted the lives of so many people for the better. I can go on and on.'

Her sister Jennifer said Amanda would be remembered for her kindness.

“Her sons were everything to her,” she added.

The dog has not been found.