SANTA CRUZ, CA — A witness captured a video of a teenage lifeguard battling pounding surf to rescue a 10-year-old boy who was repeatedly pulled away from shore at Seabright Beach.
The rescue unfolded as powerful waves crashed along the beach, with the 16-year-old lifeguard swimming to the boy, holding onto him and struggling against the surf until another lifeguard arrived to help bring them safely back to shore.
Scott Vander Dussen, who recorded the rescue, said he spotted what looked like the boy's head bobbing in the whitewater and immediately alerted a nearby lifeguard.
"I've seen several rescues, but never one so intense like this," Vander Dussen said. "The waves were just so powerful that day. I think a couple seconds different on the lifeguard's timing and it would have been a completely different outcome."
Bystanders formed a human chain to try to help the young lifeguard, but the pounding surf repeatedly tore apart the chain. Eventually another lifeguard jumped into the fray, and they pulled the boy to shore.
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The boy was evaluated by paramedics before being released to his parents, according to Vander Dussen.
Video courtesy of Scott Vander Dussen / Instagram @santacruznow.
Santa Cruz lifeguards undergo extensive marine safety and medical training before serving on the city's beaches.
National Weather Service officials warned hazardous surf conditions are expected to continue through Wednesday.
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