A 16-year-old lifeguard, Ryder Williams, spoke out on Wednesday, July 30, 2026, about his dramatic rescue of a 10-year-old boy at Santa Cruz Beach the previous Saturday. The rescue, which went viral, involved Williams battling volatile waves to save the child who had lost his footing in ankle-deep water near Tower 2.

Williams recounted, "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." After two to three more waves, fellow lifeguard Aaron Bohnen entered the water to assist.

Once they reached shore, they assessed the child with medical supplies before Williams returned to his tower to continue his shift. He expressed gratitude, saying, "I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to return the child to his family safely. 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."

California State Parks reported that Williams' rescue was one of 34 in the Santa Cruz district over that weekend. They confirmed that all lifeguard towers were staffed, with six units on duty, including a two-person rescue watercraft team, three permanent lifeguard units, and a lifeguard supervisor working in the Pajaro Coast area.

In recognition of his bravery, plans were announced to bring Williams and his family to the White House, potentially with the boy he saved, to receive a High Civilian Honor.

Sources