Eric Trump Calls for Teen Lifeguard’s Highest Civilian Honor After Wave Rescue (VIDEO)
A 16-year-old lifeguard in Santa Cruz, California, is being praised for staying calm in a dangerous moment and saving a 10-year-old boy from rough ocean waves on Saturday.
Video of the rescue shows the teen fighting through heavy surf as waves slammed into him again and again. The boy had been caught in violent water and swept out before the lifeguard moved in.
The footage is intense. The lifeguard can be seen using his training while repeatedly ducking under the whitewash. He keeps working toward the boy even as the water churns around them.
People watching from the beach quickly realized how serious the situation had become. Some bystanders moved toward the shoreline to help pull the boy out once the lifeguard got him close enough.
Witness Scott Vander Dussen told NBC Bay Area the ocean changed fast.
“The waves, I wouldn’t say they were tranquil, but they were what you’d expect, a normal cadence and intensity,” witness Scott Vander Dussen told NBC Bay Area.
“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,” the witness said.
Vander Dussen said the lifeguards likely made the difference between a close call and a tragedy.
“I’m glad it ended the way it did. I’m certain if the lifeguards weren’t there, he wouldn’t have gone home that night,” he added.
NBC Bay Area reported that the boy was evaluated after the rescue and then released to his family.
Eric Trump reacted to the video on X and called for the young lifeguard to receive major recognition for his actions.
“Give this 16-year-old lifeguard the highest civilian honor. This is truly the best of America! Well done!” Eric Trump said on X.
WATCH:
https://x.com/EricTrump/status/2081834610757927248?s=20
Santa Cruz lifeguards are not just sitting in chairs watching the water. The city requires formal training before candidates can serve in the role.
“Candidates must successful complete a minimum 56 hour Lifeguard training, plus 24 hours medical certification training if not currently certified to Title 22 First Aid and CPR for the Professional Rescuer or higher,” the city of Santa Cruz says.
That training appeared to matter in this rescue. In the video, the teen does not panic. He keeps his focus on the boy, times the waves, and pushes through the surf until help arrives at the edge of the water.
The rescue also comes as parts of the California coast remain under a National Weather Service Beach Hazards warning. The warning is tied to strong rip currents and large swells, both of which can turn a normal beach day dangerous in seconds.
Hurricane Genevieve, a Category 3 storm in the Eastern Pacific, is also contributing to coastal flooding and large swells, according to the report.