A Stratford man was awarded a medal for helping save the lives of two people.

The Carnegie Hero medal is given to those who risk their lives while saving or attempting to save the lives of others.

Richard Williams, 58, earned the honor for helping to save two people from a burning boat on Long Island Sound.

Back in June 2014, a fire broke out on a 40-foot clam boat, about a mile off the Milford shore. Most of the crew successfully jumped into the water, but two of them struggled to stay afloat alongside the burning vessel which contained about 500 gallons of diesel fuel.

Williams and his cousin were in a 20-foot fishing boat nearby and were able to pull the two men to safety as small explosions erupted on the clam boat.

Everyone survived.

Williams says he doesn't consider himself a hero, and claims his Boy Scout training as a young boy prepared him for the rescue.