DEL MAR, Calif.—Two residents of San Diego County will receive the Carnegie Medal for their heroic actions in saving a man attacked by a shark in Del Mar’s waters, as announced on Monday.
Kevin Barrett, 51, from San Diego, and Cameron Whiting, 31, from Encinitas, are being recognized for assisting a wounded swimmer to safety after the man was bitten by a juvenile great white shark on June 2.
The victim, 46-year-old Caleb Adams, was one of many individuals participating in an open-water swim when the shark attacked. Despite sustaining lacerations to his chest, leg, and hand, Adams managed to fend off the 9-foot-long shark by punching it.
Following the incident, Barrett and Whiting swam to Adams’ aid. Barrett reportedly pulled Adams onto himself and backstroked towards the shore, with Whiting then placing Adams on a nearby surfer’s surfboard and pushing it towards land.
Once onshore, Barrett and Whiting helped Adams onto the back of a lifeguard truck.
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Adams lost a significant amount of blood, underwent emergency surgery, and was hospitalized for three days. However, he has since made a full recovery, as reported by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.
Barrett and Whiting are among the 18 individuals being honored with the Carnegie Medal in the Hero Fund’s third round of award announcements for this year.
