16-year-old lifeguard rescues child at Santa Cruz beach, video shows [vUPl3i0EOl9]
Video captured Sunday shows wall-like waves crashing into Seabright State Beach in Santa Cruz as a 10-year-old child is swept into the ocean before being rescued by a 16-year-old lifeguard. The rescue footage quickly circulated online, eventually catching the attention of President Donald Trump, who took to X to praise the "heroic young man" and invite him to the White House to receive a "High Civilian Honor." It was just after 3:30 p.m. when the lifeguard spotted the child lose his footing and get pulled into deeper water. He reached the young swimmer and kept him afloat until a second lifeguard arrived. Together, they fought their way back to shore. The lifesaving response was one of 34 carried out by California State Parks' Santa Cruz District over the weekend as a powerful swell created dangerous beach conditions along the coast.