Firefighters rescued a 23-year-old swimmer from Manana Island near Makapu'u last night.

Matt Thompson, a University of Hawai'i student, said he was snorkeling near Manana, also known as Rabbit Island, with friends in the afternoon when a wave tossed him onto some rocks, hurting his knees and legs.

While one friend stayed on the beach with Thompson, two others swam for more than 45 minutes back to Makapu'u to get help.

A fire helicopter dropped off two rescue workers, who bandaged Thompson's legs and prepared him for a flight across the channel, said Fire Battalion Chief Hiram Keliipio. The helicopter returned shortly before 6 p.m. to carry them to shore.

Thompson declined medical treatment at the scene but said his friends would take him to a hospital for a checkup.

Before that, though, they were ticketed by state enforcement agents for landing on Manana, a seabird sanctuary.

Reach Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.