The father of a 10-year-old boy rescued from powerful surf off the California coast expressed profound gratitude for the teenage lifeguard whose actions were captured on video.
Nathaniel Rai was standing in shallow water at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz when he lost his footing and was pulled into the ocean by large swells on Saturday. The boy’s father, Sumit Rai, who was in Dallas at the time, learned of the incident from his son.
"My son told me that he drowned and my son told me that he went unconscious," Rai told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "He was very subdued, still in a state of shock."
Ryder Williams, the 16-year-old lifeguard who performed the rescue, stated that he saw the boy lose his footing in ankle-deep water. Williams radioed for assistance and then proceeded to rescue Nathaniel.
"After the first wave, I was unable to pull him out because he was limp and the waves were pushing so hard," Williams said in a statement. "I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to return the child to his family safely. This is my job and I love what I do. I’m thankful to my fellow lifeguards who perform rescues just like this every day."
California State Parks, which employs lifeguards at the beach, reported that the boy was swept approximately 15 yards into the ocean before the lifeguard reached him. The video of the rescue shows Williams diving into a wave while holding onto the boy. Another lifeguard and some bystanders assisted, with Williams warning bystanders to return to shore.
Nathaniel sustained no serious injuries and was released to his family after a medical evaluation. His father noted that his son has been experiencing psychological distress and nightmares following the traumatic event. Rai stated he hopes to thank Williams in person for his actions, saying, "What he did, I can never ever repay. I'm forever grateful."