An Erie man who died while trying to save his teenage son in Virginia is being recognized with one of North America’s highest honors for civilian heroism.
The Carnegie Hero Fund announced that Matthew Atchley, 41, of Erie, Pennsylvania, is among 18 people receiving the Carnegie Medal in its first award announcement of 2026. The medal is awarded to those throughout the United States and Canada who risk serious injury or death to save or try to save others.
According to the Hero Fund, Matthew had passed away on May 25, 2024, at Lake Anna in Bumpass, Virginia, after swimming out to help his 14-year-old son, Tyler, who was struggling in deep, murky water.
The organization stated Tyler had gone into the lake to retrieve a flotation ring that had drifted about 100 feet from shore when he began having trouble staying afloat. After being alerted by Tyler’s sister, Matthew rushed to the shoreline and swam towards his son.
Officials stated Matthew had reached an area near where Tyler was last seen and repeatedly dove underwater in an attempt to find him after he disappeared beneath the surface. As he worked to reach his son he too began to struggle and went under. He unfortunately did not resurface.
Others at the scene entered the water with life jackets and goggles in an attempt to help, but poor visibility made rescue efforts difficult. Police and rescue divers later found both Matthew and Tyler submerged in the cove. They had unfortunately passed by the time crews had found them.
The Carnegie Hero Fund stated that all 18 people recognized in this round have either risked serious injury or death, or were killed, while saving or attempting to save others in acts of extraordinary heroism.
Based in Pittsburgh, the Carnegie Hero Fund has awarded the Carnegie Medal to 10,563 people since it was established in 1904 by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Each awardee or their survivors receives a financial grant. Throughout the past 122 years, the fund has stated it has provided $46 million in one-time grants, scholarship aid, death benefits and continuing assistance to those recognized.