U.S. Rep. Scott Peters of California presented the Carnegie Medal to Kevin Barrett and Cameron Whiting at a June 20 presentation held at his office in San Diego.
Barrett and Whiting received the medal in September 2024 after they saved a man from an attacking shark in Del Mar, California, on June 2, 2024.
A group of more than a dozen swimmers were finishing an open-water swim in the Pacific Ocean when one of their teammates, 46-year-old Caleb Adams, was attacked by a juvenile great white shark. The shark was later determined to be approximately 9 feet long and 550 pounds. The bite from the shark caused severe lacerations on different parts of Adams’ body, including his chest, torso, hand, and thigh, which also had puncture wounds. Adams punched the shark twice, which caused it to leave the scene. Kevin M. Barrett, 51, and Cameron A. Whiting, 31, had just finished their swim when they heard screams from Adams and a nearby witness. The men exchanged a glance and then swam toward Adams. As Barrett approached, he saw blood in the water. Barrett pulled Adams on top of his chest and began to backstroke toward shore. Whiting arrived seconds later, as did a male surfer, who offered his surfboard for them to use. Barrett and Whiting moved Adams atop the board face-down, while Whiting laid atop Adams’ lower body and kicked his legs in the water to propel the board toward shore. Barrett swam next to them and kept a hand on the board to steady it. Once they were in waist-deep water, Barrett and Whiting each grabbed an arm and helped Adams to shore. They made their way up the beach and laid him in the back of a lifeguard truck that had arrived. Within 10 minutes, paramedics arrived and took the man to a nearby hospital. Doctors told Adams he lost a third of his blood from his wounds and underwent emergency surgery to repair them. He was hospitalized for three days and has now recovered. Both Barrett and Whiting were not injured.
Peters tweeted following the ceremony to recognize both men for their heroic efforts to save their fellow swimmer.
“On Friday, I presented the Carnegie Medal to Kevin Barrett and Cameron Whiting who heroically saved a fellow swimmer from a shark attack in Del Mar last year. I commend their bravery and quick thinking in a perilous moment.”
Both men remain humble following the rescue, Whiting going as far to say their actions were a small part.
“The reality is we’re doing what we loved that day, and we played a small part in the efforts to get Caleb back home,” Whiting said.
