Waterville, Minnesota, Mayor Bill Conlin presented the Carnegie Medal to his constituent Dalton Grose at a Feb. 2 award ceremony at Waterville’s city hall. Grose, center, is seen with his wife Landry, and their daughter, Harper.
Grose received the medal after he saved an 85-year-old man from drowning in Albert Lea, Minnesota, on Sept. 20, 2023.
Dwight M. Weise had become disoriented while driving his truck and the vehicle went over a retaining wall where it entered Fountain Lake with him trapped inside. Grose, then 25, was working on a boat nearby with his coworker when they witnessed the accident. Grose piloted the boat close to the truck and jumped into the cold water. He swam to the driver’s door where he could see water inside the truck had reached Weise’s chin. The truck continued to sink as Grose attempted to open the door and could only open it a crack before water pressure forced it shut. He was undeterred and, using his feet against the body of the truck as leverage, he pulled hard and successfully opened the door. Grose cradled Weise, pulling him from the vehicle. With his legs, Grose pushed away from the truck and then pushed off the bottom of the lakebed to resurface. After taking three bounding steps with Weise still in his arms, submerging and resurfacing, Grose reached wadable water. He carried the Weise to a ladder attached to the dock where a bystander helped Weise exit the water. Grose swam back to his boat and piloted it to shore. Weise was disoriented but suffered no injuries. Grose, also, suffered no injuries.
Along with Grose’s family, Weise’s family was also in attendance to show their appreciation for the heroic actions he took to save their loved one.
