A 16-year-old lifeguard whose daring rescue of a 10-year-old on Saturday went viral finally spoke out about the harrowing save in a Wednesday statement.Ryder Williams, the teen hero whose daring rescue of a young boy at the Santa Cruz Beach on Saturday captivated the nation, described the episode in a statement released by his employer, California State Parks."I was at the waterline 15 yards downcoast of Tower 2 making a safety contact when I looked up and saw a child about 20 (yards) up from the tower lose his footing in ankle deep water," the statement opened.OFF-DUTY ICE OFFICER RELIES ON 'SIXTH SENSE' TO SAVE DROWNING CHILD BEFORE DELIVERING MESSAGE TO CRITICS16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams repeatedly disappeared beneath towering waves while refusing to let go of a child swept into dangerous California surf in Santa Cruz, California on July 25, 2026.(Scott Vander Dussen/Instagram @Santacruznow)"I radioed it in, threw my radio and sunglasses at the base of my tower as I ran toward the kid.
I put my fins on my wrist, popped my buoy and entered the water to get ahold of the child.Due to the volatility of the water, I was unable to tube up the victim.
After the first wave I was unable to pull him out because he was limp and the waves were pushing so hard.There were two to three more waves before lifeguard Aaron Bohnen entered the water to help me.
There were bystanders who jumped in to try to help, and I yelled at them all to get back to shore," Williams' statement continued."Once Bohnen and I got the kid to shore I was instructed to get the med bag from Bohnen’s unit and we assessed the child.Shortly after, I got back into my tower where I returned to provide lifeguard services for the rest of my shift," he continued.‘HERO' MOM DIES AFTER USING LAST STRENGTH TO SAVE 4-YEAR-OLD SON FROM FLORIDA RIVER"I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to return the child to his family safely.
This is my job and I love what I do.I’m thankful to my fellow lifeg...