A 10-year-old boy who was rescued by a teenage lifeguard from pounding waves off the California coast has no memory of the incident after a large wave swept him off his feet in shallow water. The dramatic rescue at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz on July 25 was captured on video, showing 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams clinging to Nathaniel Rai as wave after wave crashed over them.
Williams stated that he observed Nathaniel lose his footing in the shallow water. The conditions were too rough to use a rescue tube, and the boy lost consciousness and went limp. According to Williams, he and Nathaniel rode out several more large waves before a second lifeguard arrived to assist in bringing them both back to shore.
Nathaniel, who was on vacation with his mother, told The Associated Press that the first thing he remembers is lifeguards grabbing him and that he is thankful to the lifeguard for saving his life. He added that he believes he has a bruise from how tightly the lifeguard held him.
His father, Sumit Rai, described the incident as life-threatening, estimating that Nathaniel was "two seconds away from dying." He added that if the lifeguard had not reached him when he did, his son would have been carried further out to sea, making a rescue impossible.
Nathaniel and his father later had the opportunity to speak with Williams and his father. Sumit Rai noted that they discovered shared interests and a surprising connection.
Nathaniel has watched the video of the rescue and, like his father, expressed amazement at the strength of the waves and the bravery of those involved. He reported experiencing some difficulty breathing and soreness in his back for a few days following the event, but is otherwise recovering well, aside from the bruise.
The video of the rescue gained widespread attention, reportedly even catching the notice of President Donald Trump.