A lifeguard who rescued a boy from powerful waves off the California coast has drawn the attention of President Donald Trump, who announced Tuesday that he plans to invite the lifeguard to the White House.
The rescue occurred last weekend at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz, about 60 miles from San Francisco, when the boy was pulled into the ocean by massive waves that suddenly came ashore. The lifeguard's identity has not been released.
"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 on social media.
Witness Scott Vander Dussen recorded video of the rescue. He told KNTV-TV that conditions shifted abruptly: "The waves, I wouldn't say they were tranquil, but they were what you'd expect, a normal cadence and intensity. And then that just changed in a heartbeat. It caught a lot of people off guard. Unfortunately, this young man was overwhelmed and swept out in just a moment's time. I'm glad it ended the way it did."
The footage shows the lifeguard rushing into the water after spotting the boy in distress. Upon reaching him, the lifeguard dove into an approaching wave while maintaining hold of the boy, who had become unresponsive. Several adults waded in to assist but were forced back by the waves. The lifeguard and a colleague ultimately succeeded in bringing the boy to shore.
Vander Dussen reported via social media that paramedics evaluated the boy before returning him to his parents. Neither the lifeguard nor the boy's name or age has been disclosed. California State Parks, which manages lifeguards at the beach, did not immediately respond to requests for additional information.