Overview
- A 16-year-old state-park lifeguard pulled an about-10-year-old child from powerful, unusual surf at Seabright State Beach, a rescue that was recorded by witness Scott Vander Dussen.
- The child was evaluated on the beach by paramedics and reunited with family with no serious injuries reported.
- Lifeguard supervisors said the rescue occurred during a weekend of roughly 25 to 34 interventions when rapidly changing currents and large waves made conditions dangerous and challenging for trained responders.
- President Trump announced plans to invite the unnamed teen and his family to the White House for a High Civilian Honor; the rescuer’s identity remains withheld because he is a minor and the planned recognition has not yet been completed.
- One outlet linked the large waves to Hurricane Genevieve, and local lifeguard officials warned that the incident could prompt more public attention to beach safety, the risks of untrained rescues, and lifeguard staffing during high-surf events.