JULY 29, 2026
Trump says 16-year-old California lifeguard who rescued boy from surf deserves White House honor
Sixteen-year-old Ryder Williams, a California State Parks lifeguard at Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz, rescued a young boy who was swept approximately 15 yards offshore by a large wave on Saturday at 3:32 p.m. Video of the rescue, in which Williams repeatedly disappeared beneath breaking waves while holding the child, spread widely online. President Trump said on X that he wants to invite Williams and his family to the White House and award him a "High Civilian Honor."
On Saturday afternoon, a child lost his balance and was knocked into the ocean by a wave at Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz, California, according to California State Parks. Lifeguard Ryder Williams, 16, entered the water and maintained contact with the child until a second lifeguard arrived to assist. The juvenile was pulled from the ocean with no serious injuries and was released to his parents, the agency said.
Video of the rescue, recorded and shared on social media, showed Williams being submerged repeatedly by breaking waves while holding the child. The footage drew widespread attention online, with thousands of reactions praising Williams's effort. Social media accounts claiming to represent witnesses described the rescue as lasting longer than the video showed, and said beachgoers had formed a human chain that was eventually broken apart by the surf.
After the rescue, Williams reportedly sprinted past his lifeguard tower to summon aid as paramedics arrived to evaluate the boy, according to Fox News Digital, citing a witness account. Williams then returned to duty and continued watching over beachgoers for the remainder of the evening.