A Cincinnati man who bravely rescued two teenagers off the coast of South Carolina is set to receive national recognition for his heroic act.
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The Carnegie Hero Fund is a prestigious organization that honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional acts of courage and heroism.
A national award is being presented to a financial advisor from Cincinnati who bravely saved two teenage girls trapped in a rip current off the coast of South Carolina.
Seventeen individuals have been recognized for their extraordinary acts of heroism and will be awarded the Carnegie Medal for Heroism, the highest honor for civilian heroism in North America. This prestigious award is given by the Carnegie Hero Fund, and the recipients have been chosen for their remarkable bravery.
One of the 17 individuals to receive recognition is Michael Louis Lesan, a 41-year-old resident of Cincinnati. Lesan’s encounter took place on June 22, 2023, in the Atlantic Ocean near Edisto Beach, South Carolina.
While swimming, two teenage girls found themselves caught in a rip current. The wind gusts measured up to 28 mph., resulting in six-foot waves and turbulent water. Lesan noticed the girls being carried away from the shore, prompting him to take immediate action.
Without hesitation, he plunged into the water and skillfully swam a distance of approximately 120 feet to reach the older girl who was struggling to keep herself afloat. With determination, he guided her towards the shore, despite facing the challenge of being submerged underwater twice during their journey. As they neared the shore, the girl regained her footing and managed to walk out of the water unassisted. Lesan, however, continued to push forward, crawling the remaining stretch until he finally emerged from the water.
Both individuals would eventually regain their health.
The Carnegie Medal serves as a tribute to individuals who display extraordinary courage by risking their own lives to save or help others, which is exactly what Lesan demonstrated. With the recent announcement for 2024, the Carnegie Medal has now been granted to an impressive total of 10,422 individuals since its establishment back in 1904.
Recipients or their survivors will be provided with a financial grant, which includes one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits, and ongoing assistance. A total of $45 million has already been awarded in these forms of support.
“I don’t anticipate that this fund will inspire or generate heroism,” Carnegie stated when establishing the fund. “I’m well aware that heroic actions are spontaneous. However, I firmly believe that if a hero is injured in their courageous endeavor to serve or save others, they and their dependents should not suffer financially.”
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