United States President, Donald Trump. Photo: AFP
President Donald Trump has said he will host a 16-year-old lifeguard, identified only by the first name Ryder, at the White House alongside his family and the boy he rescued from rough surf off the California coast, to award him a top civilian honour, citing the teenager’s bravery in the water.
Trump made the pledge on Tuesday via a post on X.com, describing the teenager’s actions as brave and deserving of recognition.
“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!” Trump wrote.
The President’s remarks followed a similar call by his son, Eric Trump, who had shared a video of the rescue on X on Monday, urging that the teenager be given the country’s highest civilian honour.
“Give this 16-year-old lifeguard the highest civilian honor. This is truly the best of America! Well done!” Eric Trump wrote.
The rescue occurred on Saturday at Seabright State Beach near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in California, after powerful waves swept a boy further into the ocean amid dangerous surf conditions battering the state’s coastline that weekend.
Footage of the incident, shared via TikTok by the account Cajon Pass Freeway 15, showed the teenage lifeguard repeatedly diving beneath crashing whitewater while holding onto the struggling boy as the surf continued to batter both of them. A second lifeguard, along with several beachgoers, joined the rescue effort before the boy was brought safely back to shore.
According to Fox News, a woman who identified herself as the teenager’s mother thanked supporters. She said in a post that she was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and respect directed at her son, adding that he “was just doing the job that he absolutely loves.”
