PALM CITY, Fla. (CBS12) — A Palm City man who pulled his wife free from the jaws of an alligator during a violent river attack in 2025 is set to receive the Carnegie Medal for heroism, officials said.
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission announced it will honor 33-year-old Kelby Perren for his actions during the July 23, 2025, attack in the South Fork of the St. Lucie River in Stuart.
Perren was on a nearby beach when he saw his wife, 27-year-old Amber Perren, thrashing in the water after an 8.5-foot alligator clamped onto her arm and dragged her underwater, according to previous reports.
Officials say Kelby believed she may have been attacked by a shark and rushed into the water and grabbed her around the waist. As the alligator held on, he felt it tugging at her arm and pulling away from him.
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That’s when he forcefully yanked her, freeing her from the gator’s jaw.
After the horrifying encounter, the couple reportedly returned to their boat, and Perren called 911. They later met first responders at a nearby dock where Amber was airlifted to a trauma center with serious injuries, including two broken bones in he forearm.
Amber spent six days in the hospital and eventually regained some movement in her arm, according to the release.
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, established in 1904 by industrialist Andrew Carnegie, awards the Carnegie Medal to individuals who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while attempting to save others.
Authorities previously said the attack may have been linked to heightened alligator aggression during nesting season, which peaks in July.
The Perrens’ rescue is now being recognized as an act of life-saving courage in the face of extreme danger.