Benefit concert honors teen who died jumping into lake trying to save stranger

Aden Perry, 17, was hailed as a hero

SUNRISE, Fla. – A “free community healing celebration of life concert” was held Saturday night to honor a South Florida teenager who died in April while trying to save another teen who crashed his car into a Sunrise lake.

17-year-old Aden Perry was in the area when an 18-year-old high school basketball player, heading home to Davie from a game at Coral Springs High School, missed a turn, hitting a curb, a tree and then crashing into a lake at the Residences at Sawgrass Mills on April 19.

Perry jumped into the water in a heroic attempt to save the teen, but both would lose their lives that night.

Perry was later honored by Broward County’s mayor for his bravery. Mayor Michael Udine presented the Mayor’s Medal of Valor award to Aden Perry’s mother, honoring the good Samaritan for his acts that night.

Saturday’s benefit concert took place at the City of Sunrise Amphitheater on 10610 W. Oakland Park Blvd.

Perry went to Western High School. The school’s chorus and local live bands and singers all donated their time and talent to provide the late teenager’s family with a night to celebrate Perry’s love for music.

Perry’s mother, Sarah Perry, said she is grateful for all of the support she has received over the past few months.

“It’s humbling, because I know that they are here for my son, but they are also here for me,” she said. “I lost my son, which is everything and knowing that I have a large support group behind me helps.”

The event raised funds for the Good Samaritan Scholarship fund set up in Perry’s honor. Perry’s family has set up a GoFundMe page that accepts donations for the scholarship program, designed to aid students interested in medicine or science.


About the Authors:

Yarden Ben-David has been a news producer at Local 10 News since March of 2021.

Chris Gothner joined the Local 10 News team in 2022 as a Digital Journalist.