Ryder Williams, the teenage lifeguard who heroically rescued a 10-year boy from massive waves at Seabright Beach on July 25 has been invited to the White House to receive an award.
President Donald Trump made the invitation public on social media Tuesday. Williams and his family have all been invited to Washington D.C.
“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 posted to social media.
The rescue was captured on video by local resident Scott Vander Dussen and quickly went viral after being posted to Instagram and Facebook.
Ryder Williams
The video shows the rescue already underway as Williams clings to the boy as a huge wave envelopes the two and they disappear under it. Seconds later they reappear as others on the beach try to pull them in, but are forced to retreat when another wave equally as large crushes the two again.
Despite the danger, Williams holds on to the boy as wave after wave crashes against the two. Others trying to help are nearly swept away themselves. Eventually a second lifeguard joins the effort, and with the help of others, the child and lifeguard were brought safely back to the beach.
Vander Dussen, who recorded the video and shared it through his social media account, said on social that the ocean conditions changed quickly and caught people off guard. He said the lifeguard’s actions saved the child’s life.
The child’s name and family information have not been publicly released.
Local resident Brittany Conley said she saw the entire incident. She said the whole scene unfolded between two lifeguard towers, both waving red flags reading “danger.”
“Between those towers were two rip currents and about 20 to 30 people hanging at the waters edge, playing in the water. No one was swimming in the water as it was clearly too dangerous. I saw three kids get pulled in by the waves throughout the day that were helped by guards and parents. It seemed very ignorant to have kids anywhere near the water this day,” she said.
She said the young boy that was saved on the video had been pulled in by a rip current, but the waves weren’t huge. He began to panic, trying to swim in, but was getting sucked further out by the rip current. He then waved for help.
“This is when people began screaming for the lifeguard,” she said. “As the guard was coming, the kid was tossed in a couple huge waves. By the time the guard came, the boy was completely limp. The guard was struggling to get in, so people began to attempt to help. It was doing more harm than good, and they were instructed to get out,” she said.
Conley said it was clear that most of the visitors were from out of town. Most local beaches would have had a dozen experienced swimmers and surfers eager to help. The waters were rough, but if visitors had the knowledge of what to do in a rip current, or even basic sense to dive under the waves, it would have helped tremendously.
“I love that the focus was on the lifeguard and his heroic actions that day. Our summer program, Junior Guards, has taught thousands of kids how to navigate the ocean and how to help others when needed,” she said. “The lifeguard is an absolute hero.”