Maui firefighter Lawrence Crilley was honored with the "Guardian of Life" Kahuola Award for action he took while off duty to help save an unconscious swimmer last year at Tavares Bay in Pa'ia.

During the April 27 incident, Crilley, who joined the Maui Fire Department nine years ago, brought the victim to shore and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. The swimmer made a full recovery.

Crilley works at the Kihei Fire Station and was a firefighter in New York for 15 years before coming to Maui.

In accepting the award from the county Fire & Public Safety Commission, Crilley called his actions "nothing out of the ordinary" for someone in his line of work, according to a news release. "Every firefighter would have done the same. I just happened to be the one that was there," he said.

The Kahuola plaque was donated by Juanita "Kuini" Hokoana in memory of the late Deputy Fire Chief LeRoy Hokoana Sr.