President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced he would honor a 16-year-old California lifeguard with a “High Civilian Honor” for rescuing a young boy from monstrous waves Saturday that could have killed the child.
“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. Very brave, he deserves it!” Trump exclaimed of the Santa Cruz lifeguard.
The president’s message came after his son, Eric Trump, suggested a reward for the rescuer.
“Give this 16-year-old lifeguard the highest civilian honor,” Eric wrote. “This is truly the best of America. Well done!”
🚨 WOW! President Trump just announced he will be bringing this 16YO lifeguard to the WHITE HOUSE to give him a High Civilian Honor, after @EricTrump called for it
THAT is a HERO 👏🏻
“We’re going to bring this heroic young man, and his family, into the White House with, perhaps,… pic.twitter.com/I7H4RLBz1A
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 28, 2026
The rescue at Seabright State Beach was caught on video by Scott Vander Dussen, who told NBC he watched a lifeguard rush into the water to help the boy, whom he said appeared to be about 10 years old.
“It caught a lot of people off-guard,” said Vander Dussen. “Unfortunately, this young man was overwhelmed and swept out in just a moment’s time.”
“I’m glad it ended the way it did,” he added. “I’m certain if the lifeguards weren’t there, he wouldn’t have gone home that night.”
“I saw the lifeguard just run straight out into the water, and, you know, he dove in, setting fear aside.”
“And I think in this situation, the young man was already out there. I don’t think he was bargaining for this. It looked like those waves changed quickly, and he just got overpowered and swept out.”
“The lifeguard just had a gorilla grip on that young man, held him from getting swept back out.”
KGO-TV in San Francisco reports the rescue was one of at least 34 reported over the weekend in Santa Cruz County as massive swells pounded the shoreline. In this case, a second lifeguard helped bring the boy safely onto the beach.
“They were trying to help, but then ultimately another lifeguard was able to assist, and I think the two of them did the lion’s share of the work,” Vander Dussen said.
“If the lifeguards were not out there, it would have had a different ending. He was in desperate need of help, and those two lifeguards went in and did what needed to be done.”
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