Teen Lifeguard's Daring Rescue Catches Trump's Attention: What Happened Next?

A teenage lifeguard who went viral overnight after saving a child has received praise from none other than President Donald Trump . The 16-year-old featured in a video that has done the rounds online after he was seen bravely saving a 10-year-old boy at sea . Ryder Williams featured in the tense footage over the weekend, as he desperately held on to the child in the face of rough waves in unfavorable conditions. The towering waves in Santa Cruz, California, left many shocked at the teen's actions, as he could be seen disappearing beneath crashing waves, refusing to let go of the boy. Trump took to social media on Tuesday (July 28) to praise the teenager's actions, after California State Parks confirmed the identity of the teen to Fox News Digital . The teenage lifeguard has been praised for his actions by Donald Trump. Credit: Instagram/@Santacruznow Donald Trump invites teen lifeguard to White House The President said that he wants to invite the young hero to the White House, suggesting that he could be awarded a high civilian honor. After seeing the video, Trump wrote on X: “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!” Eric Trump, the President's third child, also took to social media to praise the teen, saying: "Give this 16-year-old lifeguard the highest civilian honor. This is truly the best of America! Well done!" Williams' family have since spoken out about the viral clip, revealing that it wasn't his only save of the day, as his grandfather claimed: “He had two rescues afterwards on the same day that were more gnarly.” The teen's father, Shane, explained: “He just wants to be a kid and work hard this summer and serve and protect his community.” Speaking to the publication, the California State Parks said that the teenager was on a "safety contact at Seabright State Beach when they observed a child lose his balance and get knocked down by a wave," at around 3:32 PM on Saturday. They added: "The child was swept into the ocean approximately 15 yards offshore and a State Parks lifeguard made contact with the victim until another lifeguard entered the water to assist. " Luckily, the child was pulled from the ocean with no serious injuries and handed back to his parents. The Santa Cruz State Lifeguard Association (SCSLA) said that the lifeguard did an "excellent job" in saving the 10-year-old, adding that he saved a life. Trump has invited the 16-year-old to the White House. Credit: Anna Moneymaker / Getty Eyewitness recalls events One person who claimed they saw the rescue unfold revealed that it took longer than the video showed. Social media users explained that civilians formed a human chain in an effort to help the lifeguard before the power of the waves broke it up. After Williams pulled the child onto the beach, the witness saw him sprint past the lifeguard tower in search of medical aid to check on the boy. While the rescue was dramatic, the teen would shortly return to duty and watch over beachgoers for the rest of the evening. To top it all off, it may have been Williams' first season as a lifeguard, as the minimum age of lifeguards was set at 16 by California State Parks. Featured image credit: Instagram/@Santacruznow