NEWPORT, Wash. – Nick Wahlman, a firefighter and paramedic, will be honored with the Lifesaving Medal of Valor on January 15 following his rescue and resuscitation of a man while on vacation in Hawaii, South Pend Oreille Fire and Rescue (SPOFR) reported.
On November 15, 2025, Wahlman noticed two men struggling in the water off Kihei, Maui. He quickly swam out and found one of the men turning blue and not breathing.
Wahlman brought the man to shore and determined he was in cardiac arrest. Alongside Dr. Ethan Deckert, the Stevens County Medical Program Director who was vacationing with him, Wahlman performed lifesaving efforts.
By the time the Maui County Fire Department arrived at the scene, Wahlman and Dr. Deckert had restored the man’s pulse.
“South Pend Oreille leadership finds Nick Wahlman to be absolutely deserving of recognition, as he represented the highest in both SPOFR standards and personal,” said SPOFR Fire Chief Shane Stocking.
Wahlman will be recognized for his award during the SPOFR Commissioner meeting on Thursday, January 15. The meeting will be held at station 31 in Diamond Lake, starting at 2 p.m.
