From Lantana, Florida, comes the inspiring story of Jakob Thompson, a brave 17-year-old who rescued a woman caught in the fast-moving currents of a canal leading to the Atlantic Ocean. His heroic act earned him the prestigious Carnegie Hero Award and a full scholarship to the Boynton Fire and Rescue Academy, supporting his dream of becoming a firefighter.
The incident occurred in December 2023 at the Boynton Beach Inlet, known as South Florida’s most dangerous due to its rapid currents. A woman was spotted struggling in the water, and without hesitation, Thompson removed his shirt and dove in. Swimming 80 feet, he secured the exhausted woman around his waist and powered back to safety against the strong current. CBS 12 News reported that the woman remained calm during the rescue, allowing Thompson to focus on bringing her to shore. Reflecting on the moment, he said, “I just swam as fast as I can to get her. By the time I got to her… she was very tired from struggling.”
The rescue was captured on video by bystander Maria Gutierrez and widely shared on social media. It caught the attention of Sarah Perry, a local resident whose son Aden tragically died trying to save someone from drowning years earlier. Perry manages the Aden Perry Good Samaritan Scholarship Fund, which rewards students for acts of heroism. She was moved by Thompson’s actions and surprised him with a scholarship during his visit to a Boynton Beach fire station. The scholarship covers all expenses for his firefighter training—a dream Thompson had long pursued.
Months later, Thompson received further recognition with the Carnegie Medal from the Carnegie Hero Fund, awarded to civilians in the U.S. and Canada who risk their lives to save others. He joined 17 other recipients honored in 2024. The medal bears a verse from John 15:13: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” Since its inception in 1904, over 10,000 Carnegie Medals have been awarded, with about 20% given posthumously.
Despite these accolades, Thompson remains humble about his actions: “Putting my life out there to help somebody came with a reward, but I was never looking for one.”