Watch: Heroic teen lifeguard rescues child from dangerous California surf
As a powerful heat wave sent beach crowds soaring, rough surf turned an already busy weekend into a challenging one for California lifeguards, who responded to thousands of emergencies along the coast.
Teen Lifeguard Saves Child From Powerful California Waves
A 16-year-old Los Angeles County lifeguard is being hailed as a hero after charging into powerful surf at a Santa Cruz beach to rescue a swimmer in distress. The dramatic rescue unfolded amid dangerous Pacific waves, highlighting the lifesaving actions that prevented a potential tragedy. Credit: Scott Vander Drussen / SantaCruzNow
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – A Santa Cruz lifeguard is being hailed as a hero around the U.S. after being captured on viral video heroically rescuing a young boy from the dangerous grip of rough surf in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of a California beach on Saturday.
Dramatic video shows the lifeguard, reported by FOX News to be a 16-year-old high school student, fighting through powerful shore break and crashing waves as he held onto the child in distress for dear life.
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The young lifeguard's heroic actions have earned widespread praise online, including from President Donald Trump, who said the teen should receive a high civilian honor and invited him and his family to the White House in recognition of the dramatic rescue.
In response to a video on the social media platform X, President Trump wrote, "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!"
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The heroic rescue came during an exceptionally busy weekend for California lifeguards. In Los Angeles County alone, lifeguards performed nearly 2,000 rescues as dangerous heat sent thousands of beachgoers into the Pacific in search of relief.
But one rescue at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz, captured on camera, is drawing widespread attention — and for good reason.
The young lifeguard never let go of the child, whom the Los Angeles County Lifeguard Association estimated to be about 10 years old, repeatedly duck-diving beneath powerful shore-breaking waves as he fought to bring the victim safely back to shore.
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After fighting through several pounding waves, a second lifeguard rushed in to assist, and together they pulled the child farther up the beach before bystanders helped carry the young victim to safety on the sand.
A heroic 16-year-old lifeguard repeatedly disappeared beneath towering waves while refusing to let go of a child swept into dangerous California surf. (Scott Vander Drussen / SantaCruzNow)
The combination of dangerous surf and extreme heat created hazardous conditions along much of the Southern California coastline, keeping lifeguards exceptionally busy as thousands flocked to the beaches to escape the soaring temperatures.
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Los Angeles County Lifeguards encouraged beachgoers to take the proper precautions, noting that with a Heat Advisory continuing across Southern California and an unfavorable swell for inexperienced swimmers expected to keep surf elevated throughout the week, visitors should check with a lifeguard about ocean conditions before entering the water.