The family of the 10-year-old boy rescued by a 16-year-old lifeguard at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz, California, has spoken out about the incident, which was captured on video and went viral online.

The boy’s father, Sumit Rai, described the dramatic moments his family lived through, stressing that a few more seconds could have proved fatal for his son. “Another two or three seconds and I don’t think my son would have made it,” he said.

According to Rai, his 10-year-old son, Nathaniel, was on holiday in California with his mother and younger sister when he was swept up by the waves. The father said the boy lost consciousness in the water and was pulled out unresponsive.

“From what I understand, he thought he was going to die. He was drowning. He knew he was drowning. He lost consciousness. When he came out of the water, he was clearly weak. He didn’t appear to be breathing,” Rai said.

The rescue was carried out by 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams, with assistance from fellow lifeguard Aaron Bonen and other beachgoers who were nearby. The incident, which lasted around two minutes, was filmed by a member of the public on the beach.

The boy’s father expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in the rescue, saying his son owes his life to their swift actions. “God bless them, and, you know, thank you. I can’t express enough gratitude. There is nothing more precious to me than my children,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ryder Williams has given his own account of what happened. He said he was near the lifeguard tower when he saw the boy lose his footing in shallow water. He immediately radioed for help and ran to the scene, though the strength of the waves made the rescue particularly difficult.

He explained that he was unable to pull the boy from the water on his first attempt, as the child was unconscious and kept being dragged by the current. A second lifeguard entered the water moments later, and the two of them managed to bring the 10-year-old to shore, where he was given first aid.

One of the most incredible lifeguard rescues you will ever see. pic.twitter.com/Uo9Y7uUTRS

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) July 27, 2026

Once the rescue was over, Williams returned to his post and carried on with his shift as normal.

The teenager’s actions have won widespread recognition across the United States. US President Donald Trump reacted to the viral footage on social media, praising the teenager’s actions and confirming the invitation. “We’re going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps, the boy he saved, to give him a High Civilian Honor. Very brave, he deserves it!” Trump wrote in a post on X.

The 10-year-old remains in California, where he continues to recover from his ordeal.