Brian Higa was awarded the International Lifesaving Rescue Medal of Valour in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Thursday.
The longtime City and County of Honolulu lifeguard is only the third person to win this award, which is awarded to one person in the world annually.
He was chosen for a rescue in February 2011. Higa jumped off a 25-foot cliff into the Moi Hole at Yokohama Bay to rescue a 19-year-old Canadian man, who had been washed off the rocks into the hole by a large wave. Higa only had fins and a rescue tube. Higa fought off sets of waves and swam more than 300 yards to bring the visitor to shore. He had only minor scrapes.
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