I turned from news cameraman into a rescuer, basically. — Austin Raishbrook, Carnegie Medal awardee #9992
At that point, I had to do something. I couldn’t wait any longer. She was barely hanging on. — Brian R. Gadwell, Carnegie Medal awardee #10010 in an April 18, 2017 article that appeared in The Detroit News.
I just want us all to be able to help each other, even if a life isn’t in physical danger. — Andrea L. Harris, Carnegie Medal awardee #10098
This whole situation feels very extraordinary and surreal. It’s hard for me to acknowledge my actions as heroic, as the rescue to me was less of a random act and more so the act of my training being applied to reality. — Rebecka Blackburn, Carnegie Medal awardee #10100
He was there and willing to put his life on the line. — Son of woman saved by J. Ryan Thornton, Carnegie Medal awardee #10106
The main thing I was going to do my best. No matter how long. And it took me a while to be able to get him out. — Allen Sirois, Carnegie Medal awardee #10109
The rescue was stressful, hard, and taxing, but I know how to contend with the waves: It’s one wave at a time and one breath at a time. — Daniel Simonelli, Carnegie Medal awardee #10131
Without thinking, [Farley] jumped straight into it, knowing that it was a dangerous situation. — Witness to the actions of Jacob Farley, Carnegie Medal awardee #10137
As many people stood on the riverbank, trying to figure out what to do, [Rothpletz] jumped into action. — U.S. Coast Guard commander of Ann Rothpletz, Carnegie Medal awardee #10147
Actually I [didn’t] think anything. There’s no time to think anything. If I don’t get there, that girl maybe [dies]. As a parent I had to do that. No matter whose children, I had to do it. That’s it. — Yun Qi, Carnegie Medal awardee #10148