A fire helicopter airlifted a man in his 40s to safety today after he hurt his ankle while on the larger of the two Mokulua Islands near Kailua.

A bystander called firefighters to report the man needed help on the far side of Moku Nui at 3:16 p.m., said Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig.

Firefighters first reached the man by boat and treated him until a fire helicopter picked him up by net, then dropped him off at Kailua Beach Park.

The man was transferred to paramedics about 4 p.m., Seelig said.