Sgt. Adam Kronstedt, of the Crow Wing County Sheriff's Office, received the Medal of Valor from the Minnesota Sheriff's Association Dec. 10, gaining recognition for his efforts to save a drowning victim.
Kronstedt responded to a call June 7 of a male in the water yelling for help on Gilbert Lake north of Brainerd. Kronstedt entered the water with a lifejacket and rope, swam into the channel where the victim was last been seen, let go of the rope and lifejacket and dove under water. He emerged within seconds, repositioned himself, and dove again, this time resurfacing with the victim. Other responders used the rope and lifejacket to pull Kronstedt and the victim to shore. The 66-year-old Brainerd man was transferred to an ambulance, where paramedics performed lifesaving measures but were ultimately unable to save him.
"Sgt. Kronstedt's bravery and self-sacrifice undoubtedly involved risk to his own life in an attempt to save another. This performance of duty by Sgt. Kronstedt is a common standard of his extraordinary merit," Chief Dept. Dennis Lasher said in a news release.
Kronstedt received the award at the Minnesota Sheriff's Association winter conference in Alexandria.
