Trump to honor young lifeguard who rescued boy from pounding surf

A young lifeguard who was seen on camera saving a young boy from strong 
waves at Santa Cruz’s Seabright State Beach over the weekend has caught 
the attention of President Donald Trump.

Trump praised the lifeguard’s actions in a post on X Tuesday, saying he 
intends to invite him, his family and possibly the boy he saved to the 
White House to present him with a High Civilian Honor.

“Very brave, he deserves it!” Trump said.

Eric Trump also commented on the rescue, sharing video on X, saying, “Give 
this 16-year-old lifeguard the highest civilian honor. This is truly the 
best of America! Well done!”

As first reported by KTLA sister station KRON4 in the Bay Area, two 
lifeguards dove into pounding surf to save a boy who was being pulled into 
the ocean by powerful swells that came ashore about 60 miles down the 
coast from San Francisco.

A witness, Scott Vander Dussen, captured video of the rescue Saturday.

“I looked out toward the ocean, and I saw the white foam with a little 
black dot just getting pulled back out. I ran up to the lifeguard tower. 
Another gentleman saw the same thing. We told [the lifeguard] someone is 
being swept and carried out to the ocean,” Vander Dussen told KRON4.

California State Parks officials said the child lost his balance and was 
“knocked down by a wave.”

After two lifeguards ran into the water towards the boy, Vander Dussen’s 
video showed one bear-hugging the boy as both were swept by relentless 
waves.

Eventually, the lifeguards were able to drag the exhausted boy out of the 
ocean and back to shore.

Vander Dussen said the boy had no strength left to swim, but thankfully, 
he survived. He didn’t suffer any serious injuries and was reunited with 
his parents.

One of the heroic lifeguards was a rookie and between 16-17 years old, 
Vander Dussen said. He described the young lifeguard’s actions as 
“phenomenal.”

https://ktla.com/news/california/trump-says-he-will-honor-california-
lifeguard/