Kaua'i County is crediting a north shore lifeguard and two surfers with saving the life of a visitor from Illinois last month.

Chris Pico, with Kaua'i's Ocean Safety Bureau for eight years, was on duty at Hanalei Bay on April 17 when he saw a swimmer in trouble, a county news release said.

Pico paddled out to the man, a 49-year-old from Singer Wood, Ill.

Two of Pico's friends, Brett Devlin and Kalani Nui, helped. They put the man on a surfboard and brought him ashore. Pico began CPR, lifeguard Dustin Koga administered oxygen, and the man was released from a hospital the next day.