An El Cajon native who drowned while rescuing two children from the Colorado River will be posthumously awarded the Carnegie Medal, one of the nation's most prestigious civilian honors, it was announced Wednesday.

Jeffery Edward Brady, 51, will be recognized by the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission for saving his girlfriend's 10-year-old and 12-year-old nephews after the boys were swept away by the river's current on July 5, 2025. Brady entered the water, kept the boys above the surface, and held on until a boat arrived and the children were safely pulled from the river. Brady was unable to stay afloat and submerged. He died that day.

The Yuma County Sheriff's Office documented Brady's actions following the incident. He is one of 18 recipients of the Carnegie Medal announced this year.

Brady was born and raised in San Diego County. An online obituary describes him as "a man known for his strength, warmth, and unwavering loyalty to those he loved," adding: "Jeff's final act was one of pure selflessness and courage — an embodiment of the man he was every day of his life. In the face of danger, Jeff didn't hesitate. He gave his life so that others could live, becoming a true guardian angel in the process."

The Carnegie Medal has been awarded since 1904 to civilians in the United States and Canada who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others. Brady's family has set up a GoFundMe in his memory.