Witness captures dramatic rescue of boy caught in surf in Santa Cruz
A Santa Cruz lifeguard rescued a young boy after he became caught in rough surf as hazardous beach conditions continued along the California coast.
President Donald Trump said this week that he will honor the 16-year-old lifeguard who saved a boy from drowning in California over the weekend.
The rescue at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz, about 72 miles from San Francisco, was captured on video and has been widely circulated on social media. Footage shows the lifeguard holding onto the boy even as the two repeatedly get battered by waves that keep pulling them back into the surf. The teenager was also shown struggling to rescue the 10-year-old.
Bystanders were also seen attempting to help the two as they kept getting sucked back into the water. Eventually, the lifeguard was able to pull the boy safely to shore.
The rescue deserves the country’s highest honor, Trump said on Tuesday, July 28.
What did President Trump say?
“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,” Trump said July 28 on X. “Very brave, he deserves it!”
Scott Vander Dussen, a local photographer, told KTVU that the ocean conditions were calm before the rescue.
“When the wave crashed, it left a white foam, and I could see a black dot, which was his head getting pulled out,” he said, describing the child in the water.
Vander Dussen said it was the most intense rescue he has ever witnessed, adding that he wants the footage to serve as a warning to people about ocean safety.
“This video right here is an opportunity to showcase just how quickly things can turn, how incredibly brave and selfless the lifeguard team is,” Dussen said.
The White House did not provide additional details about the visit when contacted by USA TODAY on July 28.
What is a high civilian honor?
A high civilian honor is a prestigious non-military award that the government gives to recognize individuals for their exceptional lifetime achievements, cultural contributions or exemplary service to society. It’s unclear what high civilian honor Trump might bestow upon the lifeguard, but here are the possibilities:
- Presidential Medal of Freedom: Bestowed by the president, it is the U.S. government’s highest civilian honor, often “presented to individuals to recognize a lifetime of significant achievements in the arts, public service, science, or other fields,” according to Congress. gov.
- Congressional Gold Medal: Like the Medal of Freedom, it is also considered the highest civilian honor; however, it is bestowed by the U.S. Congress to “express public gratitude for distinguished contributions, highlight the virtues of patriotism, and perpetuate the remembrance of great events”
- Presidential Citizens Medal: Created by former President Richard M. Nixon in 1969, the medal is considered the second-highest civilian award, and it recognizes “citizens of the United States of America who have performed exemplary deeds of service for their country or their fellow citizens.”
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com.