Former Daily Herald Exec Named Carnegie Hero A Year After Death

BATAVIA, IL — Pete Rosengren, a former Daily Herald Media Group executive, has been named a Carnegie Hero a year to the day after he died saving his sons and other children from a rip current in Florida.

Rosengren, who served as vice president of sales and digital strategies, is one of 18 Americans to receive the honor for acts of extraordinary heroism from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. Officials announced him as one of the winners Monday.

The honor is given to civilians who risked their lives to save others. Officials at the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission said at least nine children between the ages of 5 and 13 were saved by the awardees.

Rosengren, of Batavia, was vacationing with his family in Miramar Beach, Florida, when he rushed into the water to save a few children from being pulled into the Gulf of Mexico, Patch reported.

That day, on March 28, 2021, access to the water was restricted after officials issued a double red-flag warning. Some kids didn't see the warning and ran into the water, and while they tried to swim back to shore, one boy couldn't make it.

Rosengren, who was 42, rushed into the water to save the 9-year-old, but the two were separated, and Rosengren lost consciousness. He later died in the hospital, Patch reported.

RELATED: Daily Herald Chief Dies Saving Kids From Rip Current

Since the Pittsburgh-based fund's inception in 1904, a total of 10,291 Carnegie Medals have been awarded.