‘HE WENT LIMP’: Hero Lifeguard Recounts Dramatic Beach Rescue

Ryder Williams, the 16-year-old lifeguard who rescued a 10-year-old boy from massive waves last week at a Santa Cruz beach, broke his silence, releasing a video statement in which he described the dramatic rescue, said he was grateful that he was able to return the boy safely to his family, and added that he had continued to conduct rescues throughout the day.

“In my safety contact, I always scan the water to see if there is anyone in need of help. I look up and I see a young boy get swept off his feet on a low point on the beach. I start running up the beach as he gets pulled out,” Williams said.

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Video footage showed the waves repeatedly rise high and slam back down on the lifeguard and the boy as Williams dragged him back to shore.

“The challenges for this rescue was that it was so close in; fins were ineffective. I’m seeing waves on the outside as I grab the child. He goes limp, so I’m thinking about if he’s unconscious or not,” the teen said. “The whole time I was thinking I just need to hold my position until my partner can get here because I’m not going to be able to get him out on my own. Doing the best I can to get a good grip on the child and not get sucked out any further.”

He said that at the point where he was too exhausted to maintain his grip, his partner took over, and they both dragged the boy out of the water, adding that this was all in a day’s work.

“That is just a part of our daily task to do to keep the public safe. That’s the reason we were on the beach,” he said. “I returned to my tower after the rescue and continued to make safety contacts, and ended up making more rescues later that day.”

“I wish more people knew about ocean conditions and rip currents,” he added. “A way that people can find out about those is talking to lifeguards or doing some research before they head to the beach. I’d like people to remember that we make thousands of rescues along the California coast and around the world every day, and that this is not an uncommon occurrence. This is our job. This is what we’re here to do, and this is the reason we are here.”

“The experience has been amazing. It is awesome to get to come out and help people every day,” he added.

Summit Rai, the father of the boy, who has been identified as Nathaniel, said he was overwhelmed with gratitude. He said that Nathaniel had been vacationing with his mother in California when the incident occurred.

“If I was watching that video, I wasn’t sure if he’ll make it, if I hadn’t seen the end of it. And I wasn’t sure, honestly, if the lifeguard would make it out with those conditions,” Rai said. “I’m just so grateful that Ryder and others were there to help pull him out and save his life. Otherwise, I can’t imagine what life would look like today.”

“Another two or three seconds, I don’t think my son would have made it,” he added, saying that his son had lost consciousness during the rescue.

Thanking the lifeguards, he said, “God bless them, and, you know, thank you. I cannot express sufficient gratitude.”

President Donald Trump said he would invite Williams to the White House to bestow upon him the highest civilian honor.