A Minnesotan will soon be awarded a very rare national medal because of a brave rescue she made of two kids and their uncle. The rescue happened back in 2020 and she still hasn't forgotten the day.

Marena Kouba just finished her senior year at St. Cloud State University where she was very active on the swim team, according to WCCO. But in July 2020, she and her boyfriend went to the Michigan Upper Peninsula to get away from everything for a bit.

While visiting the Upper Peninsula, they came across an uncle and his niece and nephew. Marena and her boyfriend realized that something was wrong and Marena jumped in the water. Soon she realized that the rip current had swept the three away and the situation suddenly turned into life or death. Marena recalled when she made it to the uncle. She told WCCO, "'I was trying to talk to him, and he was just like sobbing, I’m sure overwhelmed, not sure what’s gonna happen.'"

Get our free mobile app

She grabbed his hand and they swam over to the kids. "'When we got over to the two kids, the little boy started asking if we were going to die,'" she told WCCO. She still gets choked up about it to this day. I can't imagine the pressure she must have felt and all of the emotions!

Marena instructed all of them to hold onto each other and make a chain. She was then able to lead them all back to shore. The uncle, Eric, is incredibly thankful to Marena. He said to WCCO, "'I will never forget her saving me, doing that. She risked her own life to save people she didn’t know, strangers.'"

Because of Marena's rescue that risked her own life, she will receive the Carnegie Medal, a national award given to "someone who risks their life to an extraordinary degree while saving a stranger." She'll be given the award in two months.

Listen to the Get Up & Go Morning Show w/ Dunken & Carly On-Demand below, with the 106.9 KROC app, and on the following podcasting services:
Apple | Google | Spotify

Find Peace and Serenity in What May be Minnesota's Most Beautiful Airbnb

This tiny home Airbnb in Grand Marais, Minnesota may be the most beautiful Airbnb in the state. The wood is really pretty, all of the windows are awesome, and the views of Lake Superior are incredible.

More From 106.9 KROC-FM