JEDDAH: Saudi Arabias King Salman on Tuesday presented scholarship students Theeb Al-Yami and Jaser Al-Rakah, who drowned in Massachusetts, US, while trying to rescue two children, with the King Abdul Aziz Medal of the First Class, and SR1 million ($0.26 million) for their heirs, in recognition of their heroic act.King Salman expressed his condolences to the parents of the students at a reception in his office at Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, describing the sacrifice of the students in trying to save the children as a humanitarian work.The parents of the students expressed their thanks to the king for honoring them.The reception was attended by Minister of State and Cabinet Member Musaed bin Mohammed Al-Aiban and Assistant Special Secretary to King Salman, Tamim Al-Salem.Al-Yami, 27, and Al-Rakah, 25, were taking a road trip in the US when they saw the frantic mother of the two children and rushed to help. Other onlookers also tried to help, but strong currents prevented them from reaching the children.In a desperate bid to reach the pair, the two Saudi students leapt into the river, but were swept away. Both children were able to swim to shore.Al-Yami was an engineering student in his fourth year at Hartford University, while Al-Rakah enrolled in the University of New England last fall to study civil engineering. Both were believed to be a month away from graduating.