Teen lifeguard recounts dramatic rescue that saved 10-year-old at a California beach

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The teen lifeguard whose heroic actions have garnered national attention saved a 10-year-old boy from drowning at Seabright Beach in California last Saturday.

His efforts have even caught the attention of the president of the United States, who has formally invited the teen, his family, and the boy he saved to the White House to receive the nation’s highest civilian honor.

Now, days after the rescue and national recognition, the lifeguard, 16-year-old Ryder Williams, has released a statement recounting the events of that day at the beach, which is in Santa Cruz.

He also praised a second lifeguard seen in the rescue video, Aaron Bohnen, who helped rescue the child.

Ryder said, “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. I radioed it in, threw my radio and sunglasses at the base of my tower as I ran toward the kid. I put my fins on my wrist, popped my buoy and entered the water to get ahold of the child. 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. There were two to three more waves before lifeguard Aaron Bohnen entered the water to help me. There were bystanders who jumped in to try to help, and I yelled at them all to get back to shore.

“Once Bohnen and I got the kid to shore I was instructed to get the med bag from Bohnen’s unit and we assessed the child. Shortly after, I got back into my tower where I returned to provide lifeguard services for the rest of my shift.”

He went on to say that he is grateful he had the chance to return the child 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.”

Ryder’s father, Shane Williams, spoke with The Guardian about how proud he is of his son’s actions, which saved the boy’s life.

“He told me: ‘I just was not going to let that happen,’” Shane Williams told The Guardian during a telephone interview. “I almost started crying because how determined he was to save that boy’s life makes me so proud.”

Shane Williams, a retired firefighter, told The Guardian that his son is unsure why everyone is blowing the rescue out of proportion and believes any other lifeguard would have done the same thing.

California State Parks also released a statement that reads in part:

“The State lifeguards in Santa Cruz County were busy with large surf, warm weather and heavy crowds. All California State Park lifeguard towers were staffed.

“Rookie lifeguard Ryder Williams was working Tower 2 on Seabright State Beach making safety contacts all day due to the large crowds and heavy surf.

“California State Parks’ Santa Cruz District lifeguards performed 34 rescues over the weekend.

“Our State Park lifeguards courageously risk their own lives every day to keep our visitors safe. Their dedication never goes unnoticed and they are truly heroes to their local communities, Californians and the nation.”