Donald Trump has praised the 16-year-old lifeguard, Ryder, who saved a drowning boy on Truth Social. In the post, the president announced his plan to give the brave teen a high civilian honor. Since the rescue, Ryder has received widespread praise across social media.
Donald Trump plans to honour 16-year-old Ryder Williams after the dramatic Seabright Beach rescue
Donald Trump made a Truth Social post on July 28 where he declared that he would give a high civilian honor to the 16-year-old lifeguard, identified as Ryder, who saved a drowning boy. The incident took place at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz. The rescued child is believed to be around 10 years old.
President Trump reposted a statement from Eric Trump where he said, “Give this 16-year-old lifeguard the highest civilian honor. This is truly the best of America! Well done!”
Agreeing with his son, the POTUS declared, “We’re going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps, the boy he saved, to give him a High Civilian Honor. Very brave, he deserves it!”
A joint Instagram video posted by the Santa Cruz State Lifeguard Association shows Ryder clutching the young boy to keep him from flowing away among the turbulent waves at the beach. A massive wave hit the pair at one point as they disappeared under the water. However, several others rushed in to help the brave teen successfully pull the child out of danger.
A witness named Scott Vander Dussen told NBC Bay Area, “The waves, I wouldn’t say they were tranquil, but they were what you’d expect, a normal cadence and intensity.” He added, “And then that just changed in a heartbeat.”
He continued, “It caught a lot of people off-guard. Unfortunately, this young man was overwhelmed and swept out in just a moment’s time. I’m glad it ended the way it did. I’m certain if the lifeguards weren’t there, he wouldn’t have gone home that night.”
Paramedics evaluated the 10-year-old before releasing him to the parents. Ryder has been receiving overwhelming praise for his bravery on social media.
