St. Cloud Woman Honored For Saving A Man and Two Children

(KNSI) – A college swimmer from St. Cloud has been honored for saving a man and two children in Lake Superior. Marena Kouba was given the Carnegie Medal from the Carnegie Hero Fund. The 21-year-old was visiting Lake Superior near Marquette, Michigan, on July 19th, 2020, when she saw a man and two kids struggling in the water.

According to a press release, Kouba entered the lake despite rough water and swam several hundred feet to 37-year-old Eric “E. J.” Benac told him to hold onto her. Kouba then swam to the ten and 11-year-old children and told them to hold onto her.

With all three people holding to one arm, Kouba swam toward shore but got tired as she struggled against the current. She shouted to others to bring rescue equipment, and other people on the beach swam about 100 feet to help Benac and the two children to safety. Kouba graduated from Sartell High School in 2017 and is a member of the St. Cloud State University Swim Team.

Kouba is one of 18 people honored by the Carnegie Medal Fund. Each of the awardees or their survivors will also receive a financial grant.

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