Trustees, administration applaud Shane Morrison for selfless actions in saving boy from drowning
It isn’t every day a teenager is referred to as a hero, but the designation, regardless, has been applied to Concord Township resident Shane Morrison multiple times in less than two years.
And yet another honor, following the Silver Lifesaving Medal issued by the U.S. Coast Guard last summer, has found itself in Shane’s possession, this time the Carnegie Medal, recently presented by the Concord Township trustees.
The honor, bestowed by the Pittsburgh-based Carnegie Hero Fund Commission, serves to recognize individuals throughout the United States and Canada who risk their lives to an extraordinary degree while saving or attempting to save the lives of others.
“We live in a heroic age,” Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie wrote in the opening lines of the commission’s founding Deed of Trust in 1904. “Not seldom are we thrilled by deeds of heroism where men or women are injured or lose their lives in attempting to preserve or rescue their fellows.”
The rescuer must have no full measure of responsibility for the safety of the victim, and conclusive evidence must support the act’s occurrence, according to Eric P. Zahren, who serves as president and secretary of the commission.
The act must also be called to the attention of the commission within two years.
“Equally important to our (overall) cause is to tell the story of what these heroes did for other people,” said Zahren, noting hundreds of cases are examined by the commission every year. “Only about 10 percent are ultimately awarded, with 20 percent awarded posthumously.”
Awardees are announced four times a year and come from all different racial, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds.
“And they all have one thing in common and that is, in the moment of truth, when lives were in peril, they made that split-second decision to risk their own lives on behalf of another individual,” Zahren said.
“What we really recognize is the moral choice made by the rescuer — that choice changes lives and others who may be inspired to act,” he added. “In a sense, our heroes take a heartbeat in a moment of intensity with real-life, long-lasting, sometimes final consequences.”
In June 2020, Shane risked his life by diving into Lake Erie to save Donovan Conwell, who had become overwhelmed by the powerful current.
Shane, then 15, was atop the breakwater with friends at Headlands Beach State Park when he saw Donovan bobbing about 200 feet northeast of the structure.
He swam to Donovan and grasped him from behind.
A lengthy struggle ensued during which Donovan submerged Shane repeatedly as he kept the 13-year-old afloat.
Authorities arrived shortly in a boat and took the two to safety. Donovan received treatment at a hospital and recovered; Shane, nearly exhausted, also recovered.
“Shane certainly embodies Carnegie’s ideal, the very best of human nature, our innate ability to selflessly put another’s life above our own without obligation or thoughts of our own well-being,” Zahren said.
“It is truly my honor and privilege on behalf of the commission to present to you the Carnegie Medal for Civilian Heroism.”
Trustees Carl Dondorfer, Amy Lucci, and Morgan McIntosh, along with Administrator Andy Rose and township department heads, applauded Shane as Zahren presented the accolade.
“It is with great pleasure that the Concord Township administration extends its congratulations to Shane Morrison for (the) attainment of North America’s highest honor for civilian heroism,” Rose said.
Humbled, Shane added, “I am so honored to be recognized by the Carnegie Hero Foundation, however, I truly want to acknowledge those in this group who lost their lives and were unable to accept their awards in person….
“They are the true heroes,” he said.
To date, more than 10,273 medals have been awarded, with recipients selected from more than 100,000 nominees.
In addition, grants totaling more than $40 million have been given to awardees or their survivors and include scholarship aid, continuing assistance, and death benefits.
For more information, visit www.carnegiehero.org.