Overview
- A 16-year-old California State Parks lifeguard, Ryder Williams, ran into 8–10 foot surf at Seabright State Beach to rescue 10-year-old Nathaniel Rai in a July 25 incident that was captured on video and went viral.
- Williams and fellow lifeguard Aaron Bohnen brought the limp child to shore, paramedics evaluated him, and officials say he did not suffer serious injuries and is recovering.
- President Donald Trump praised Williams and offered to honor him at the White House; the family says White House staff have contacted them but no official date has been set.
- Officials and forecasters tied the dangerous conditions to large swells from Hurricane Fausto and Tropical Cyclone Genevieve and an expected stronger El Niño, and agencies reported high rescue volumes including 34 Santa Cruz district rescues and nearly 2,000 rescues in Los Angeles County over a busy weekend.
- Authorities used the episode to urge simple safety steps—swim near lifeguards, heed warnings, and use flotation devices for rescues—to reduce bystander risk and relieve pressure on lifeguard teams while noting Williams was a rookie on his first season and returned to duty after the rescue.