President Donald Trump announced that 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams, who recently performed a dramatic rescue of a 10-year-old boy amidst powerful surf in Santa Cruz, California, will be invited to the White House for a civilian honor. The announcement came via an X post from the White House.
Williams' daring save, which occurred on Saturday, July 25, 2026, in Santa Cruz Beach, was captured on video and has since gone viral. In a statement released by his employer, California State Parks, Williams described the intense conditions.
"I was at the waterline 15 yards downcoast of Tower 2 making a safety contact when I looked up and saw a child about 20 (yards) up from the tower lose his footing in ankle deep water," Williams stated. "I radioed it in, threw my radio and sunglasses at the base of my tower as I ran toward the kid."
He recounted putting on his fins and grabbing his buoy before entering the water. "Due to the volatility of the water, I was unable to tube up the victim. After the first wave I was unable to pull him out because he was limp and the waves were pushing so hard," he explained. "There were two to three more waves before lifeguard Aaron Bohnen entered the water to help me."
Williams also noted that bystanders attempted to assist but were directed back to shore. Once Bohnen and Williams brought the child, identified as 10-year-old Nathaniel, to shore, they assessed him with a med bag. Williams then returned to his lifeguard duties.
Nathaniel's father, Sumit Rai, praised Williams' efforts, telling KTVU that the teen "fought the sea" to save his son, who weighed approximately 100 pounds and was limp in the water. "It's so easy to let go, and he knew that if he lets go then he's gonna basically just float away, and he's gone. That's the end of it, and he would have died," Rai said.
Williams expressed gratitude for the opportunity to return the child safely to his family. "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," his statement concluded.
California State Parks reported that Williams' rescue was one of 34 performed by lifeguards in the Santa Cruz district over the weekend. All lifeguard towers were staffed, with additional support from rescue watercraft teams and supervisors in the Pajaro Coast region.