2 Canadians recognized for heroic acts at U.S. Carnegie Medals ceremony

Two Canadians are among the latest 21 people being honoured with Carnegie medals for heroism.

The Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund Commission investigates stories of heroism and awards medals and cash several times a year.

Clark Whitecalf, 41, of Gallivan, Sask., was honoured for rescuing a sleeping woman from a burning house in August 2015.

And, 51-year-old Calvin Bradley Stein of Madoc, Ont., received a medal for saving a three-year-old girl from being trampled by runaway ponies at a fairground in Tweed, Ont., in July and was himself injured in the incident.

The girl was inside the track at a fairground when two ponies broke free and headed toward her at full speed. Stein, a utility worker, ran about 16 metres to the girl, scooped her up and threw her clear of the runaway ponies.

The ponies hit and dragged Stein, who suffered a concussion, facial fractures and lacerations. The girl suffered only minor injuries.

Still recovering

Stein said Wednesday he's overwhelmed to receive what he called a "prestigious" award.

"I keep saying I'd do it again in a heartbeat," he said.

"When they were coming down the track and they turned, I had enough time — there's a lot of things running through your mind. I said it was going to hurt, I knew it wasn't going to end well, I was going to run and I was going to save as many people from injury as I could."

Stein said he still has trouble speaking and walking more than five months later because of his injuries, which included a severe concussion.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat.- Calvin Bradley Stein

"When it comes right down to it, I can live with my injuries — the numbness in the face, the headaches — I can live with that the rest of my life because I know deep down I did save that young lady's life and I probably saved her brother's life, too," he said.

He said he met up with the girl's family after his facial injuries had healed, and plans to do so again over the holidays.

2 children who died awarded posthumously

The Carnegie commission is named for the late steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, who was inspired by stories of heroism during a coal mine disaster that killed 181 people, including a miner and an engineer who died trying to rescue others.

Two children who died saving the lives of even younger children are among 21 people being honoured with Carnegie medals for heroism.

The Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, based in Pittsburgh, announced the winners Tuesday.

They included posthumous honours for children who saved others.

Natalie Renee Martin, 11, of Sheboygan Falls, Wisc., led her nine-year-old sister, Jenna, to safety when their house burned on Jan. 26. Natalie went back into the house attempting to rescue two other siblings, 10-year-old Benjamin Martin and seven-year-old Carter Maki, but all three were trapped and died later of complications from smoke inhalation.

Kiera Vera Larsen, 10, was killed Feb. 22 when she pushed 2-year-old Emmah Gusich out of the way when a parked vehicle began rolling down a sloped driveway toward the toddler in El Cajon, Calif. Kiera was struck and killed by the vehicle.

The fund has given away $38.7 million US to 9,914 awardees or their families since 1904.