A 10-year-old boy who was pulled from dangerous surf at a Santa Cruz beach told his father he believed he had drowned and lost consciousness after powerful waves swept him into the ocean. The dramatic rescue has drawn widespread attention, with a 16-year-old lifeguard being praised for risking his own life to save the child.

The incident happened Saturday at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz, California. According to the boy’s father, Sumit Rai, his son Nathaniel was still shaken when they spoke later that evening.

“My son told me that he drowned,” Rai said. “He also told me that he went unconscious. He was very subdued and still in a state of shock.”

After reaching safety, Nathaniel began coughing up sand as he recovered from the frightening experience.

Rai described his son’s survival as nothing short of a miracle and expressed deep gratitude to the teenage lifeguard who rescued him.

“I’m so grateful to Ryder,” he said. “Gratefully, he’s alive. It’s a miracle.”

According to Rai, Nathaniel had been standing in ankle-deep water when a series of powerful waves suddenly knocked him off balance and pulled him into the ocean.

Sixteen-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams immediately recognized the danger. He radioed for assistance before running into the rough surf to reach the struggling child.

Williams later explained that the rescue was far from easy.

“After the first wave, I was unable to pull him out because he was limp and the waves were pushing so hard,” he said.

California State Parks reported that Nathaniel had been carried approximately 15 yards offshore before Williams managed to reach him.

Video captured by witnesses showed the young lifeguard battling towering waves while holding tightly onto the unconscious child. Despite repeated surges threatening to drag them both back into deeper water, Williams refused to let go until they reached safety.

When his shift ended, Williams told his father what had motivated him throughout the rescue.

“He told me when he got home, ‘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,'” said Shane Williams, a retired firefighter. “It brought a tear to my eye.”

Rai later revealed that the rescue was even more dangerous than the video footage suggested.

Approximately ten people initially rushed into the water in an attempt to help, but several had to retreat because the surf conditions were simply too dangerous.

“Two more seconds and 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 the incident only managed to spot Nathaniel when the white foam of a crashing wave briefly exposed a glimpse of the boy’s brown hair.

Although Nathaniel escaped without major physical injuries, the emotional impact has remained.

His father said the boy inhaled sand during the incident and continued coughing it up after reaching shore. The experience has also affected him emotionally.

“He’s still been thinking about it a lot,” Rai said. “It’s on his mind. It bothers him when he’s sleeping. So it’s obviously traumatizing.”

Despite receiving widespread recognition, Williams has remained humble about his actions.

“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to return the child to his family safely,” he said. “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.”

Nathaniel’s father believes the young lifeguard knowingly placed himself in danger to save another person’s life.

“He ran into that water despite those conditions that are deadly,” Rai said. “You have 10-foot waves, riptides and strong currents. It wasn’t safe for him either.”

“What he did, I can never ever repay,” he added. “I’m forever grateful.”

In recognition of his bravery, President Donald Trump announced earlier this week that Ryder Williams will receive a high civilian honor at the White House for his heroic actions.

The rescue has become a powerful reminder of both the dangers posed by powerful ocean currents and the courage shown by first responders and lifeguards who risk their own safety to protect others.

Source: https://nypost.com/