A 10-year-old boy rescued from the punishing surf at a Santa Cruz beach told his father he “drowned” and “went unconscious” after monster waves swept him into the ocean — as the teenage California lifeguard who saved him is being hailed a hero.
The dramatic rescue unfolded Saturday at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz, where 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams plunged into violent surf to save the struggling child as towering waves and dangerous rip currents battered the shoreline.
The rescued boy’s father, Sumit Rai, told The Associated Press that his son Nathaniel was still in shock when they spoke later that evening.
After the rescue, Nathaniel began coughing up sand as he recovered from the terrifying ordeal that nearly claimed his life, Rai said.
“My son told me that he drowned and my son told me that he went unconscious,” the dad said. “He was very subdued, still in a state of shock.”
Rai previously told The California Post he believes his son’s survival was “a miracle.”
“Gratefully, he’s alive. It’s a miracle,” the dad said. “I’m so grateful to that lifeguard, Ryder.”
Nathaniel had been standing in ankle-deep water when powerful swells suddenly knocked him off his feet and dragged him into the ocean.
Williams said he immediately radioed for help before sprinting into the dangerous conditions.
“After the first wave, I was unable to pull him out because he was limp and the waves were pushing so hard,” Williams said in a statement.
California State Parks said the boy was swept about 15 yards offshore before Williams reached him.
Dramatic video captured the teen diving through crashing waves while gripping the limp child, refusing to let go as the surf repeatedly threatened to pull them both back out to sea.
When Williams returned home after his shift, he told his father exactly what was going through his mind during the rescue.
“He told me when he got home, he said, ‘Dad, I wasn’t going to let go of that kid because I knew if I let go of him he was going to drown, and I wasn’t going to let that happen,’ and it brought a tear to my eye when he said that,” retired firefighter Shane Williams told The Post.
Rai told The Post that the rescue was even more perilous than it appeared on video. About 10 people initially rushed into the water to help, but several had to retreat because the pounding surf was so dangerous.
“Two more seconds, he gets thrown another 15 to 20 feet,” Rai said. “You can’t see him, let alone rescue him.”
He added that the person filming only spotted his son when the white foam of a crashing wave briefly exposed a glimpse of the boy’s brown hair.
Although Nathaniel escaped without serious injuries, Rai said the terrifying ordeal has left emotional scars.
He also told the AP that his son got sand in his lungs and was coughing it out after reaching shore.
“He’s still been thinking about it a lot. It’s on his mind,” Rai said. “It bothers him when he’s sleeping. So it’s obviously traumatizing.”
Williams has repeatedly downplayed the attention surrounding his heroics.
“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to return the child to his family safely. This is my job and I love what I do. I’m thankful to my fellow lifeguards who perform rescues just like this every day,” he said in his statement.
“He ran into that water despite those conditions that are deadly,” Rai added to the AP. “You have 10-foot waves; you have riptides and currents coming in. It is not safe for him to go into that water. So he’s risking his own safety.”
“What he did, I can never ever repay,” Rai added. “I’m forever grateful.”
President Trump announced Tuesday that Williams will receive a high civilian honor at the White House for his bravery.