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President Donald Trump on Tuesday praised the teenage lifeguard who went viral after rescuing a young boy from towering waves in Santa Cruz, California, saying he wants to invite the teen to the White House and potentially award him a high civilian honor.
California State Parks confirmed to Fox News Digital that the lifeguard is 16-year-old Ryder Williams. Williams was captured in a heart-stopping video Saturday battling massive surf as he repeatedly disappeared beneath crashing waves while maintaining a relentless grip on the child he was rescuing.
After seeing the dramatic rescue, Trump said the teen deserved national recognition.
“We’re going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps, the boy he saved, to give him a High Civilian Honor. Very brave, he deserves it!” Trump said in a post on X.
HEROIC 16-YEAR-OLD LIFEGUARD RESCUES CHILD FROM MONSTER SURF IN HEART-STOPPING VIDEO
The California State Parks told Fox News Digital that Williams was on a “safety contact at Seabright State Beach when they observed a child lose his balance and get knocked down by a wave” at 3:32 p.m. on Saturday.
“The child was swept into the ocean approximately 15 yards offshore and a State Parks lifeguard made contact with the victim until another lifeguard entered the water to assist. “
The juvenile was successfully pulled from the ocean with no serious injuries and was released to his parents, the agency said.
The Santa Cruz State Lifeguard Association (SCSLA) also told Fox News Digital that its lifeguard did an “excellent job” during the rescue, praising him for saving a life.
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Eric Trump also praised the rescue on social media, calling for the teen to receive the nation’s highest civilian recognition.
“Give this 16-year-old lifeguard the highest civilian honor. This is truly the best of America! Well done!” he said.
The rescue drew thousands of reactions online, with many praising Williams for battling powerful waves that appeared too dangerous even for bystanders who attempted to help.
One person claiming to have witnessed the rescue said it lasted far longer than the viral video showed. Beachgoers reportedly formed a human chain in an effort to help before it was eventually broken apart by the pounding surf, according to social media users.
After pulling the child safely onto the beach, Williams reportedly sprinted past his lifeguard tower to get aid as paramedics arrived to evaluate the boy, the witness said. Despite the dramatic rescue, Williams later returned to duty and continued watching over beachgoers for the rest of the evening.
The rescue may have come during William’s first season as a lifeguard. California State Parks requires state lifeguards to be at least 16 years old.
Another social media user who said she knew William’s emphasized how extraordinary the rescue was.
“I’m not sure how many people know how hard it is to hold onto someone like that in the ocean, during these heavy conditions and pounding shore break. This lifeguard handled it like a pro, pulled him in most of the way solo and never gave up. That is a feat in itself, especially in those conditions. A true Hero & waterman. I seriously hope he gets recognized for this,” the user said.
Other people claiming to have witnessed the incident said the surf had initially appeared relatively calm, with many beachgoers standing at the water’s edge when a massive wave suddenly crashed ashore.
“It was so big it nearly reached us by our things all the way up the beach!” the witness said.
Seabright Beach is known for its powerful shore break, with waves shaped by swells arriving from multiple directions, creating hazardous conditions even for experienced swimmers.
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