Credit: Pixabay
Sixteen-year-old California lifeguard Ryder Williams did not stop saving lives after his heroic rescue of a 10-year-old boy from violent surf went viral.
Williams, a rookie California State Parks lifeguard, charged into the pounding waves at Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz on Saturday after the young boy was knocked down and dragged roughly 15 yards into the ocean.
Now, his family has revealed that the rescue seen around the world was only one of three Williams performed that day.
“He had two rescues afterwards on the same day that were more gnarly,” Ryder’s grandfather, George Williams, told the New York Post.
After being battered by massive waves while desperately holding onto an exhausted child, the 16-year-old went right back to work, and reportedly completed two more dangerous rescues.
Video of the first rescue showed Williams wrapping the boy in a tight grip as towering waves repeatedly crashed over them. The teenager deliberately ducked beneath the whitewater while refusing to release the child.
Several bystanders attempted to help, but the brutal surf knocked some of them down and forced others to retreat. A second lifeguard eventually reached Williams and helped bring the boy safely ashore.
Watch the video here.
The child was evaluated by paramedics and reunited with his family without suffering serious injuries.
Williams escaped with only minor abrasions after being driven into the sand while shielding the boy.
According to his grandfather, the humble teenager dismissed the national attention and told his family that saving lives was simply his job.
His father, a 54-year-old retired firefighter, said the family has been overwhelmed by the enormous outpouring of support.
His mother confirmed Williams’ identity on social media and rejected calls for a GoFundMe.
“He was just doing the job that he absolutely loves,” she said, urging supporters instead to back the Santa Cruz County Parks Junior Guards program that trained Ryder and so many of his fellow guards. She also pressed for lifeguards to finally be classified as first responders
As The Gateway Pundit previously reported, Eric Trump called on his father to award Williams the nation’s highest civilian honor.
“This is truly the best of America!” Eric Trump wrote.
President Trump responded Tuesday by announcing that Williams and his family would be invited to the White House, possibly alongside the young boy whose life he saved.
Trump said the teenager would receive a “High Civilian Honor,” although the president did not specify which award would be presented.
“Very brave, he deserves it!” Trump wrote.
The Gateway Pundit reported that Trump’s announcement followed the rescue video’s rapid spread across social media.
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