WELLS - Chloe Van Alstine's frigid water rescue in November has earned her more than the admiration of the community. She also received a prestigious Carnegie Medal and a $5,000 award.
Van Alstine, who braved cold water when she rescued a fellow Wells resident when he crashed his truck into Lake Algonquin, learned Wednesday she had received a Carnegie Medal and the monetary award that accompanies it.
The medal is awarded to about 100 people a year and is given to people all over the country and in Canada. It's given to people "who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree saving or attempting to save the lives of others," according to a news release from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission.
Van Alstine shares the honor with 21 other people who recently were given the award, including several people who died trying to save people who were drowning.
An anonymous person nominated her for the award nearly six months ago, Van Alstine said. She went through a number of interviews before being notified she received the award Wednesday afternoon.
"I think it's awesome," she said of receiving the award. "It's a great honor to have."
Van Alstine was on her way back Wednesday from visiting Ithaca College, where she will attend school in the fall. A certified lifeguard, she graduated from Wells Central School last week and was 17 years old when she rescued William Trainor from the cold water.
Trainor lost control of his truck, went through a guardrail and plunged into the water. Van Alstine, who was taking a breather on the beach after going for a short run, saw the accident and immediately dove into the water to help Trainor.
By the time she reached him, another bystander had rowed a boat into the water. Van Alstine and Trainor swam to the boat and held on as it was paddled back to shore.
Trainor later was charged with driving while intoxicated.
The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission was established in 1904 and has given more than 8,000 medals and $30 million in grants. Van Alstine's father, John Van Alstine, said he was extremely proud when he heard his daughter had received the prestigious award.
He said it also was sobering to hear that some of the other award recipients were rescuing someone from cold water and died as a result.
"We are very lucky we still have [Chloe], considering the temperature of the water," he said. "They put her in the ambulance as well, and her body temperature was substantially low. It took a long time to get her temperature back up."
John Van Alstine also said Chloe's actions are a reflection of her good character. He said she received a "substantial" leadership scholarship to attend Ithaca College.
"I couldn't be more proud of her," he said.
Kayleigh Karutis can be reached at gloversville@leaderherald.com
