A 16-year-old lifeguard has been invited to the White House for his heroic actions after a dramatic rescue of a 10-year-old boy caught in dangerous rip currents and powerful surf at California's Seabright State Beach. The rescue, captured on video, shows lifeguard Ryder Williams battling rough waves to save the child.
The boy's father, Sumit Rai, expressed profound gratitude for Williams' bravery, stating, "There is no way I could ever repay him." Rai recounted the terrifying phone call from his son, Nathaniel, who had been swept about 15 yards into deep water after a wave knocked him down near the shoreline. Nathaniel told his father he had gone unconscious and thought he was going to die.
Seabright State Beach was under a high surf advisory at the time of the incident, with waves reportedly reaching 10 feet. Williams, stationed at Tower 2, observed the child losing his footing about 20 yards from his post. He immediately radioed for assistance, left his belongings, and ran into the ocean with fins and a rescue buoy.
Viral footage of the rescue shows Williams struggling to keep the boy afloat in the punishing surf. According to Williams, the force of the waves made it difficult to pull the child to safety. "After the first wave, I was unable to pull him out because he was limp and the waves were pushing so hard," Williams stated.
Another lifeguard, Aaron Bohnen, entered the water to assist Williams, and together they brought Nathaniel to shore. Rai noted that Williams had to carry approximately 100 pounds through the crashing waves, calling the feat "remarkable."
Following the incident, President Donald Trump commented that the teen lifeguard deserved a White House honor. Rai supported this sentiment, saying, "He absolutely should. I’m for any award or recognition. I’m his biggest fan, and I am so grateful for what he did."
Williams reflected on his role, stating, "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 reported that lifeguards in the Santa Cruz District performed 34 rescues and made over 5,000 preventative contacts over that weekend.