{"id":2637828,"date":"2026-07-30T12:45:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-30T16:45:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-hero-lifeguard-speaks-out-i-love-what-i-do\/"},"modified":"2026-07-30T12:49:21","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T16:49:21","slug":"california-hero-lifeguard-speaks-out-i-love-what-i-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-hero-lifeguard-speaks-out-i-love-what-i-do\/","title":{"rendered":"California hero lifeguard speaks out: &#8216;I love what I do&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornia-hero-lifeguard-speaks-out-i-love-what-i-do%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2637828&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A 16-year-old California lifeguard, Ryder Williams, who recently saved a boy from drowning at Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz, expressed his love for his job and gratitude for the chance to help. during the rescue, Williams was near Tower 2 when he noticed a child losing footing in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/honeymoon-ends-in-horror-when-lightning-strikes\/\" title=\"Honeymoon Ends in Horror When Lightning Strikes\">ankle-deep water<\/a> and quickly responded by radioing the incident and running to assist. The dramatic rescue was captured in a viral video showing Williams holding onto the boy amid large waves and a risky rip tide. The event received praise from local witnesses, as well as high-profile figures like President Donald Trump and his son Eric Trump, who called Williams a hero. Trump announced plans to invite Williams and his family to the White House to bestow a \u201cHigh Civilian Honor\u201d on him. California State Parks reported rescuing 34 people in Santa Cruz County sence the weekend, with the coastline well staffed by rescue units.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4666280\/trump-to-award-top-civilian-honor-teen-lifeguard-who-saved-child-viral-wave-rescue\/\">16-year-old California lifeguard<\/a> who saved a young boy from drowning Saturday at Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz released a statement Wednesday, saying, \u201cI love what I do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m grateful to have had the opportunity to return the child to his family safely,\u201d Ryder Williams said in a statement, according to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2026-07-29\/california-teen-lifeguard-rescue-captures-awe\">L<em>os Angeles Times<\/em><\/a>. \u201cThis is my job and I love what I do. I\u2019m thankful to my fellow lifeguards who perform rescues just like this every day.\u201d<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4668999\/california-hero-lifeguard-speaks-out-love-what-i-do\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>California hero lifeguard speaks out: \u2018I love what I do\u2019<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4668430\/economy-expanded-second-quarter-2026\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>In slowdown, the economy expanded at 1.5% rate in second quarter<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4666636\/dsa-leadership-plans-2028-nationwide-general-strike-perfect-storm-organizing\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DSA leadership plans for a 2028 nationwide general strike: A \u2018perfect storm\u2019 for organizing<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Williams, who had just started the job that summer, says he was at \u201cthe waterline 15 yards downcoast of Tower 2 making a safety contact,\u201d when he saw the young child \u201cabout 20 yards up from the tower lose his footing in ankle deep water.\u201d Williams says he radioed the incident, and \u201cthrew my radio and sunglasses at the base of my tower as I ran toward the kid.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">&#8220;We\u2019re 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!&#8221; \u2013 President Donald J. Trump \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8<a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/5IoSQPd93Q\">pic.twitter.com\/5IoSQPd93Q<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 The White House (@WhiteHouse) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/WhiteHouse\/status\/2082158335302725687?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 28, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A viral video of the rescue, recorded by local photographer Scott Vander Dussen, showed Williams holding onto the boy as he fought against the large waves during a dangerous rip tide. The rescue drew praise from local bystanders, who recalled the rescue being \u201cintense,\u201d as well as President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> and his son <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/eric-trump\/\">Eric Trump<\/a>, who called Williams \u201cheroic.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4666280\/trump-to-award-top-civilian-honor-teen-lifeguard-who-saved-child-viral-wave-rescue\/\">announced Tuesday<\/a> that he plans to invite Williams and his family to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/white-house\/\">White House<\/a> to give him a \u201cHigh Civilian Honor.\u201d <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4666280\/trump-to-award-top-civilian-honor-teen-lifeguard-who-saved-child-viral-wave-rescue\/\"><strong>TRUMP TO AWARD TOP CIVILIAN HONOR TO TEENAGE LIFEGUARD WHO SAVED CHILD<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">California State Parks lifeguards said they rescued 34 people in Santa Cruz County since the weekend began.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAll California State Park lifeguard towers were staffed, there were 6 units on, a two-person rescue water craft team, three permanent lifeguard units, and a lifeguard supervisor working in Pajaro Coast,\u201d California State Parks told <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ktvu.com\/news\/santa-cruz-lifeguard-recalls-heroic-rescue-new-statement\">FOX 2 KTVU<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Teen lifeguard rescues boy, says &#8220;I love what I do<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4275,"featured_media":2637829,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP25287699255069-e1785423606243.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[4045,27365,6845,25948,12701],"class_list":["post-2637828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-california","tag-dedication","tag-hero","tag-lifeguard","tag-rescue"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP25287699255069-e1785423606243.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2637828","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4275"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2637828"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2637828\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2637832,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2637828\/revisions\/2637832"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2637829"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2637828"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2637828"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2637828"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}