SANTA CRUZ, CA — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he wants to honor a teenage California State Parks lifeguard who rescued a 10-year-old boy from pounding surf in a dramatic rescue captured on video.
The 16-year-old lifeguard rushed into the water Saturday afternoon after the child was knocked down by a wave and swept about 15 yards into the ocean, according to California State Parks.
On Tuesday, Trump praised the lifeguard on social media and said he plans to invite the teen, the boy he rescued and their families to the White House.
"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," Trump wrote. "Very brave, he deserves it!"
Witness Scott Vander Dussen captured the rescue on video after spotting what looked like the boy's head bobbing in the whitewater. He alerted another nearby lifeguard, who radioed for help as the teenage lifeguard swam into the rough surf.
Video courtesy of Scott Vander Dussen / Instagram @santacruznow.
The video shows the lifeguard reaching the boy and holding onto him as powerful waves crashed over them. Vander Dussen said several bystanders formed a human chain to try to help, but the surf repeatedly broke it apart before another lifeguard reached the pair.
Together, the lifeguards pulled the boy safely to shore. He was evaluated by paramedics and released to his parents without serious injuries, according to California State Parks.
"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."
California State Parks said the unnamed lifeguard was one of dozens of rescuers who responded to dangerous conditions over the weekend. The agency said Santa Cruz District lifeguards rescued 34 people as powerful swells battered the Central Coast.
"Our State Park lifeguards courageously risk their own lives every day to keep our visitors safe," the agency said in a statement. "Their dedication never goes unnoticed and they are truly heroes to their local communities, Californians and the nation."
The National Weather Service has extended a beach hazards statement through Aug. 1, warning of sneaker waves, strong rip currents and breaking waves up to 10 feet along portions of the California coast.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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