Dylan Nelson of Madison, SD, who sacrificed his own life while saving two others in Lake Madison.

Dylan Nelson of Madison, South Dakota has been recognized for sacrificing his own life while saving two others in Lake Madison on August 8, 2009. Nelson was swimming with his younger brother and cousin along a sandbar when a strong current pulled them under. After Nelson swam out of the strong current, he saw that his brother and cousin were still trapped. Nelson entered the current, saved his cousin, and brought him closer to shore where a man with a Jet Ski took the cousin to shore. Nelson then returned to rescue his brother, again taking him to the man with the Jet Ski. After that, Dylan went underwater and drowned. Dylan Nelson’s act of extraordinary selflessness and bravery continues to be an inspiration and a credit to the state of South Dakota and to his fellow Americans.