The Guardian · California · Original story
‘I’m super proud of him’: father of teen lifeguard recounts dramatic ocean rescue
Ryder Williams, 16, saved a boy from drowning in Santa Cruz, California – the first rescue of his career
A rookie, teenage California lifeguard who saved a young boy from drowning amid massive waves – while a bystander recorded dramatic video – has spent his whole life preparing for such a moment, according to his father.
Ryder Williams, 16, said he refused to let go of the child because he knew the boy would almost certainly die if he did, the lifeguard’s father, Shane, recounted on Tuesday, three days after the pulse-pounding rescue.
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Ramon Antonio Vargas · Wed, Jul 29, 2026, 3:00 AM
California | The Guardian
Ryder Williams, 16, saved a boy from drowning in Santa Cruz, California – the first rescue of his career
A rookie, teenage California lifeguard who saved a young boy from drowning amid massive waves – while a bystander recorded dramatic video – has spent his whole life preparing for such a moment, according to his father.
Ryder Williams, 16, said he refused to let go of the child because he knew the boy would almost certainly die if he did, the lifeguard’s father, Shane, recounted on Tuesday, three days after the pulse-pounding rescue.
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