“And then that just changed in a heartbeat.”
By Catholics for Catholics
President Donald Trump is inviting a heroic California teenage lifeguard who saved a boy from roaring waves to be honored at the White House.
According to a story by the Daily Wire, Eric Trump posted a video on X of a 16-year-old lifeguard saving a young boy’s life from huge waves in Santa Cruz, California. The post went viral with over 17 million views the next day as Trump commended the teen, saying, “This is truly the best of America! Well Done!” President Donald Trump also commented on the video in a post on Truth Social and X.
“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 said. “Very brave, he deserves it!”
AN EVERYDAY HERO!
— Catholics for Catholics 🇺🇲 (@CforCatholics) July 28, 2026
A 16 year old lifeguard saves a 10 year old, holding on to him through massive waves while telling others around to save themselves.
After making it to shore, the boy was reunited with his family. pic.twitter.com/mj1fZmk64T
Eric Trump posted: “Give this 16-year-old lifeguard the highest civilian honor. This is truly the best of America! Well done! pic.twitter.com/Pq99xNK6WI.”
Scott Vander Dussen, the man who recorded the video, told NBC News that the circumstances at the beach had been quite normal earlier in the day.
“The waves, I wouldn’t say they were tranquil, but they were what you’d expect, a normal cadence and intensity,” Vander Dussen said. “And then that just changed in a heartbeat.”
As the waves grew more forceful, a 10-year-old boy was quickly overwhelmed.
“It caught a lot of people off-guard. Unfortunately, this young man was overwhelmed and swept out in just a moment’s time,” Vander Dussen said.
True to his training, the lifeguard leaped into action, per KSBW Action News.
“That just missed the opening seconds where the first lifeguard just fearlessly ran out into those huge waves and did what was needed to bring help to that boy,” Vander Dussen added, noting he had never witnessed a rescue this intense before.
The boy is in stable condition thanks to the lifeguard’s rapid response and gallantry.
A woman on social media, who claims to be the lifeguard’s mother according to Fox News, said the teenager’s name was Ryder. After receiving many requests to start a GoFundMe for the young hero, she thanked everyone for their praise and gratitude, but said that Ryder was just doing his job.
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