SAN DIEGO, CA — A San Diego native who died while rescuing two children in an Arizona river will be posthumously awarded the Carnegie Medal for extraordinary heroism, the Carnegie Hero Fund announced.
Jeffery Edward Brady, 51, drowned July 5, 2025, while trying to save two boys struggling in the Colorado River near Martinez Lake, Arizona, according to the fund. Brady, who had moved to Arizona just before his death, was recognized for saving his girlfriend’s 10-year-old and 12-year-old nephews after the boys struggled to swim in deeper water.
Brady kept both boys above the surface before submerging and not resurfacing, according to the fund. A boat approached and the children were safely pulled out of the river. Brady’s body was recovered downstream hours later.
The Carnegie Medal, considered North America’s highest honor for civilian heroism, is awarded to individuals who risk serious injury or death to save others. Brady is among 18 people across the U.S. and Canada recognized so far this year.
The latest announcement brings the total number of recipients to 10,563 individuals since the inception of the Pittsburgh-based fund in 1904. Each awardee or their survivors receives a financial grant.