Ryder Williams lifeguard family says teen made 5 saves in Santa Cruz
Ryder Williams’ family says the 16-year-old lifeguard made five saves at Seabright Beach after a rescue video drew national attention.
By Poppy Nakagawa · Culture Writer
2 min read
Ryder Williams, the 16-year-old lifeguard whose Santa Cruz beach rescue spread across social media, helped more swimmers that same day than the viral clip showed, according to his family.
The teen was filmed rescuing a 10-year-old boy from rough surf last weekend at Seabright Beach, a moment that quickly pulled national attention toward the young California lifeguard. His family told the California Post that the widely seen rescue was only part of his Saturday.
Williams’ grandfather told the California Post that the teen made two more rescues afterward, describing those later saves as “more gnarly.” He said Williams’ count for the day reached five saves in all.
How many people did Ryder Williams save?
According to Williams’ grandfather, Ryder Williams made five saves on Saturday at Seabright Beach. The best-known one involved a 10-year-old boy who was caught in heavy waves and later checked by paramedics.
The boy was found to be OK by medics, according to reports, and left with his parents after the rescue.
The footage that pushed Williams into the spotlight was posted on TikTok, where the sight of a teenage lifeguard battling through powerful water to reach a child brought in a wave of attention.
Williams’ father told the California Post that the response has been a lot for the family to process. He said he was trying to protect his son from the crush of attention and still sees him as a little boy.
What has President Trump said about Ryder Williams?
President Trump has also taken notice of Williams, saying he plans to invite the teen lifeguard and his family to Washington, D.C., and present him with what he called a “high civilian honor.”
The report did not name a specific award. A civilian honor generally refers to recognition given outside military service, in this case for Williams’ rescue work at the beach.
For now, the story is centered on a summer day at Seabright Beach that, according to Williams’ family, included far more than one dramatic save. The video made him a viral name, but his grandfather says the teenager’s work continued after the cameras caught the moment that spread online.
Williams and his family have not been reported as giving details beyond the remarks shared with the California Post, including the total rescue count and the family’s reaction to the sudden attention.
This story draws on original reporting from TMZ.