Quick Take:
When a 10-year-old boy was swept off his feet by heavy crashing waves at Seabright State Beach, 16-year-old rookie lifeguard Ryder Williams sprinted into the water and held onto him until help arrived. Though a viral video of the rescue drew national praise — including a White House invite from Donald Trump — the teen said in a statement he was just doing the job he was trained to do.
Sixteen-year-old Ryder Williams insists he isn’t a hero.
The rookie California State Parks lifeguard says he simply relied on his training when he ran into the heavy surf at Seabright State Beach on Saturday to rescue a 10-year-old boy caught in dangerous waves.
Williams was stationed at Tower 2 when the incident unfolded.
“I was at the waterline… 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 said in a statement released by California State Parks.
He radioed the emergency, dropped his radio and sunglasses at the base of the tower, and sprinted toward the boy.
“I put my fins on my wrist, popped my buoy, and entered the water to get ahold of the child,” Williams said.
Almost as soon as he reached the boy, the surf began working against him.
“Due to the volatility of the water, I was unable to tube up the victim,” he recalled. “After the first wave, I was unable to pull him out because he was limp and the waves were pushing so hard.”
As wave after wave crashed over them, Williams held onto the boy until fellow lifeguard Aaron Bohnen swam out to help.
“There were bystanders who jumped in to try to help, and I yelled at them all to get back to shore,” Williams said.
Working together, Williams and Bohnen were able to get the boy back to shore. Williams then grabbed a medical kit from Bohnen’s patrol vehicle, and the pair treated the child until paramedics arrived.
After paramedics took over and the boy was reunited with his family, Williams returned to Tower 2 and finished the rest of his shift.
“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to return the child to his family safely,” Williams said. “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.”
State Parks officials said lifeguards across the Santa Cruz District were stretched thin over the weekend, responding to massive crowds and hazardous surf. Williams had spent much of his shift making safety contacts near Tower 2 because of the rough conditions.
By Sunday night, Santa Cruz County State Parks lifeguards had performed 34 rescues. But Williams’ rescue drew unusual attention after a bystander recorded the dramatic scene and the video spread rapidly online.
As millions watched the footage, it soon reached prominent political figures.
Eric Trump shared the video on X, calling Williams a hero and suggesting he receive “the highest civilian honor.”
President Donald Trump followed up on Truth Social, writing that he intended to host Williams and his family at the White House.
“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,” Trump wrote. “Very brave, he deserves it!”
Trump did not specify which civilian honor he had in mind, and it remains unclear whether a formal invitation has been extended to Williams and his family.
Despite the sudden national attention, Williams’ family says little has changed. The 16-year-old remains focused on the job he loves. They are encouraging anyone moved by the story to donate to the Santa Cruz County Parks Junior Guards program, where Williams first learned the lifesaving skills he put to work on Saturday.
