The 16-year-old who spent summer vacation saving lives

Ryder Williams has rescue in his DNA. The son of a retired firefighter, he began his rookie year as a lifeguard on Seabright State Beach in California. Like a lot of California kids, Ryder practically grew up in the water. At six years old he was swimming on his own and boogie boarding in the ocean. He excelled at water polo, a sport that is a lot like soccer in the pool with your opponent trying to wrestle you into submission. His mother Shannon jokes about being uncomfortable “with everyone trying to drown our son.” Ryder simply used those skills to his advantage in junior lifeguard training. It’s a rigorous program and Ryder had to fight through four days of fever fatigue to complete certification.

Ryder’s first assignment was at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz. It’s a popular vacation spot and the weather is mostly mild. The beach sits in a bay cut in the coastline that is semi-protected from heavy swells. The waves are a manageable 2 to 4 feet high, perfect for surfing and playing. But on July 25th, waves generated far out to sea by Hurricane Fausto suddenly came crashing into the bay. Waves that quickly reached ten feet and violently pummeled the beach. 10-year-old Nathaniel was playing in knee-deep water when one of the monster waves crashed around him, the rip tide sweeping him into the churn. He disappeared, bobbed up for breath, was gone again. Ryder radioed for backup and dashed into the waves. He dove through the larger waves and surfaced close enough to the flailing boy to grab hold of him. And that’s when the struggle began. Waves crashed in from all directions, filled with sand and debris. Currents moving out to sea were as strong as the waves pounding on the beach. Ryder gripped Nataniel and struggled toward shore. He dove with the boy under incoming waves, kicked his way to the surface, held the boy tight, planted his feet, got swept deeper, fought back. Several bystanders tried to help, but the waves were too violent. Ryder persisted, the boy now limp. He dragged him through the wash, was pushed back, fought forward. After two long minutes Ryder had the boy on dry ground.

There was, of course, the tearful reunion between Nathaniel and his parents. But Ryder wasn’t there. The waves were still high, and dangerous. He would make four rescues that day. Nathaniel was his first ever. Ryder was nonchalant about it and surprised at all the attention. A bystander had filmed the rescue and posted it on social media. Ryder never saw it. He doesn’t have social media. But he does have a phone, and a few days later he received a call from the White House. It was the President of the United States thanking him for his courage and inviting him to receive a civilian award for bravery.

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