SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (TNND) — President Donald Trump invited a California lifeguard who saved a boy from rough surf to the White House to receive what he called a “high civilian honor.”
The invitation came after video of the dramatic rescue went viral on social media, showing the 16-year-old lifeguard pulling the struggling boy from the ocean as dangerous surf conditions triggered dozens of rescues along the California coast.
Trump’s son, Eric Trump, first shared the video on X and praised the teen for his heroic actions, calling for him to receive the honor.
“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 on Truth Social.
The rescue happened at Seabright State Beach near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and was captured on video by Scott Vander Dussen.
Vander Dussen said conditions appeared to change rapidly before the boy was overpowered by the waves and swept farther into the water.
A second lifeguard joined the rescue, and together they were able to bring the boy safely back to shore. Everyone involved made it out of the water safely.
A boy was rescued after powerful waves swept him into the ocean at Seabright State Beach near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk as dangerous surf battered California’s coastline. (SCOTT VANDER DUSSEN/@SANTACRUZNOW via CNN Newsource)
The rescue was one of about 25 performed by Santa Cruz lifeguards Saturday as massive swells pounded the California coast, Santa Cruz State Parks lifeguard supervisor Byran Kine told CBS News.
The National Weather Service has urged people to stay out of the water along parts of the Pacific Coast through Wednesday because of an increased risk of sneaker waves and dangerous rip currents.