Family "forever grateful" after 10-year-old rescued from rip current by teen lifeguard

Last month, a 10-year-old boy named Nathaniel Rai was saved from a rip current off the coast of Santa Cruz, California, by a 16-year-old lifeguard named Ryder Williams. Nathaniel expressed his deep gratitude, stating, "I'm super thankful for him saving my life." The waves were particularly large that day, so Nathaniel decided to stay on the shore.

However, he tripped and was quickly pulled into the water, which caused him to panic. His father, Sumit Rai, recalled that Nathaniel was just a second or two away from drowning before Ryder came to his aid. Ryder explained that if he had let go, Nathaniel would have drowned. Sumit Rai praised Ryder for his quick thinking and dedication, stating, "At that point, he said, Nathaniel was unconscious and not breathing.

He just did everything he was supposed to do to save his life and put himself at risk to do so." Sumit Rai also thanked the other lifeguards and good Samaritans who assisted in saving his son. In a statement, Ryder expressed his own gratitude, saying, "I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to return the child to his family safely.

This is my job and I love what I do. I'm thankful to my fellow lifeguards who perform rescues just like this every day."