A 16-year-old lifeguard saved a boy caught by powerful waves on a beach in Santa Cruz, California, last Saturday.
The child was among the waves at Seabright Beach when they intensified. The teenager therefore quickly threw himself into the water to come to his aid during the intervention filmed by witnesses and obtained by CNN.
After battling relentlessly against the waves, another rescuer joined them. They were eventually able to bring the boy safely back to shore.
A 16-year-old lifeguard saved a boy from possible drowning on a Santa Cruz beach on July 25, 2026.
Screenshot / CNN
The man who filmed the scene spoke to television station KSBW to recount the events.
“I have never witnessed such an intense rescue before. So when I saw the situation unfold before my eyes, I really didn’t know how it was going to end,” explained Scott Vander Dussen.
US President Donald Trump even reacted to the video which went viral.
“We will invite this heroic young man and his family to the White House, perhaps with the boy he saved, to present him with a high civilian honor. He showed great courage, he fully deserves it! » he wrote in a publication on X on Tuesday.
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! President DONALD J. TRUMP https://t.co/dGL15o1tIv
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 28, 2026
