Heroic 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams spoke out after he saved a 10-year-old boy from drowning in violent waves in Santa Cruz, California.
Ryder Williams repeatedly ducked under the whitewash as waves continued to crash on him during the rescue.
Bystanders tried to rush into the shore break to help the lifeguard pull the boy out of the churning water.
The teen lifeguard held onto the drowning child and would not let him go.
Watch the video here.
Ryder Williams humbly recounted the rescue and praised the other lifeguards.
“I wish more people knew about ocean conditions and rip currents,” Williams said.
“I’d like people to remember that we make thousands of rescues along the California coast and around the world every day, and that this is not an uncommon occurrence. This is our job, this is what we’re here to do, and this is the reason we are here,” he said.
The honorable young man gave credit to his fellow lifeguards and praised
“This is my job and I love what I do,” Ryder Williams said.
“I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to return the child to his family safely. I’m thankful to my fellow lifeguards who perform rescues just like this every day,” he said.