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Father of boy rescued from pounding California surf says he is beyond grateful to teen lifeguard

Father of boy rescued from pounding California surf says he is beyond grateful to teen lifeguard

Summary

A 16-year-old lifeguard in California rescued a 10-year-old boy who was caught in dangerous ocean waves at Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz. The boy’s father expressed deep gratitude to the lifeguard, who risked his own safety to save the boy from drowning.

Key Facts

  • The boy, Nathaniel, was pulled into the ocean by large waves and strong currents while standing in shallow water.
  • The rescue happened on July 25, 2026, at Seabright State Beach, about 60 miles from San Francisco.
  • Lifeguard Ryder Williams, age 16, noticed the boy struggling and went into the water despite dangerous conditions.
  • Williams radioed for help, held onto the limp boy, and was later assisted by another lifeguard and bystanders.
  • Nathaniel was swept about 15 yards out before the lifeguard reached him.
  • After medical checks, the boy was released with no serious injuries but experienced coughing from sand in his lungs.
  • Nathaniel is dealing with mental trauma from the incident and has been thinking about it a lot.
  • The boy’s father, Sumit Rai, who was in Dallas at the time, is very thankful to the lifeguard for saving his son’s life.
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