US3 min(s) read
Published 16:28 30 Jul 2026 GMT
A teenage lifeguard who went viral overnight after saving a child has received praise from none other than President Donald Trump.
The 16-year-old featured in a video that has done the rounds online after he was seen bravely saving a 10-year-old boy at sea.
Ryder Williams featured in the tense footage over the weekend, as he desperately held on to the child in the face of rough waves in unfavorable conditions.
The towering waves in Santa Cruz, California, left many shocked at the teen's actions, as he could be seen disappearing beneath crashing waves, refusing to let go of the boy.
Trump took to social media on Tuesday (July 28) to praise the teenager's actions, after California State Parks confirmed the identity of the teen to Fox News Digital.
The President said that he wants to invite the young hero to the White House, suggesting that he could be awarded a high civilian honor.
After seeing the video, Trump wrote on X: “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!”
Eric Trump, the President's third child, also took to social media to praise the teen, saying: "Give this 16-year-old lifeguard the highest civilian honor. This is truly the best of America! Well done!"
Williams' family have since spoken out about the viral clip, revealing that it wasn't his only save of the day, as his grandfather claimed: “He had two rescues afterwards on the same day that were more gnarly.”
The teen's father, Shane, explained: “He just wants to be a kid and work hard this summer and serve and protect his community.”
Speaking to the publication, the California State Parks said that the teenager was on a "safety contact at Seabright State Beach when they observed a child lose his balance and get knocked down by a wave," at around 3:32 PM on Saturday.
They added: "The child was swept into the ocean approximately 15 yards offshore and a State Parks lifeguard made contact with the victim until another lifeguard entered the water to assist. "
Luckily, the child was pulled from the ocean with no serious injuries and handed back to his parents.
The Santa Cruz State Lifeguard Association (SCSLA) said that the lifeguard did an "excellent job" in saving the 10-year-old, adding that he saved a life.
One person who claimed they saw the rescue unfold revealed that it took longer than the video showed.
Social media users explained that civilians formed a human chain in an effort to help the lifeguard before the power of the waves broke it up.
After Williams pulled the child onto the beach, the witness saw him sprint past the lifeguard tower in search of medical aid to check on the boy.
While the rescue was dramatic, the teen would shortly return to duty and watch over beachgoers for the rest of the evening.
To top it all off, it may have been Williams' first season as a lifeguard, as the minimum age of lifeguards was set at 16 by California State Parks.
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uncategorised3 min(s) read
Published 17:17 15 Sep 2017 GMT
us3 min(s) read
Published 13:30 27 Mar 2026 GMT
Barron Trump has been hailed for 'saving a woman’s life' after a violent attack he witnessed over FaceTime led to the arrest and jailing of her attacker.
As previously reported, the 20-year-old son of Donald Trump called police in London from the US after seeing the woman being assaulted by Russian national Matvei Rumiantsev during a video call in the early hours of January 18 last year.
Snaresbrook Crown Court heard that during the attack, Rumiantsev answered the victim’s phone and turned the camera to show her crying on the floor.
Barron immediately contacted authorities, telling a 999 operator: "Oh, I’m calling from the US, uh, I just got a call from a girl, you know, she’s getting beat up," The Sun reported.
"This was happening about eight minutes ago. I just figured out how to, how to call someone. Uh, uh it’s really an emergency."
At one point, the operator told him: "Can you stop being rude and actually answer my questions. If you want to help the person, you’ll answer my questions clearly and precisely, thank you.
"So how do you know her?”
Barron responded that he knew the woman through social media and apologized, saying: "So sorry for being rude."
He later told police the victim was 'getting really badly beat up' and followed up by describing what he had seen.
"The individual who picked up the phone was a shirtless man with darkish hair… although I didn’t get a good look, this view lasted maybe one second, and I was racing with adrenaline," he revealed.
"The camera was then flipped to the victim getting hit while crying, stating something in Russian."
"The guy had hung up. This whole interaction lasted five to seven seconds," he added.
"I made two of my friends call the Met Police in the UK, even though they are in the US."
"As per evidence I do not have any, I was told by the victim who I am very close with that this individual was giving her difficulty for a long time," he told the police.
The woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, later credited Barron’s actions with helping her survive the ordeal.
Giving evidence, she said: "He (Barron Trump) helped save my life...
"That call was like a sign from God at that moment."
Police were able to respond quickly to the address and arrested the suspect, who was a London-based receptionist, shortly after the incident.
The court heard he had become jealous of the woman’s friendship with the president's son.
The 23-year-old was ultimately convicted of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and perverting the course of justice after sending the victim a letter from jail asking her to retract her allegations.
He was cleared of more serious charges, including rape and choking.
"You are a man given to jealousy and you have a temper," the judge said.
"Your lack of insight and empathy was apparent at trial. You continue to try to blame the complainant for everything that has happened."
Rumiantsev was sentenced to four years in prison.
He was also handed a seven-year restraining order and faces possible deportation from the UK.
us2 min(s) read
Published 17:14 15 Apr 2023 GMT
A 16-year-old has died after selflessly jumping into the ocean to save four younger children who were stuck in an undercurrent.
Bryce Brooks, from Atlanta, was in Pensacola, Florida, with relatives for spring break when he and an older family member died saving four children who were stuck in the ocean on April 6.
The children, whose ages are unknown, had gotten into difficulty in a part of the Perdido Key where no lifeguards were stationed, according to reports from WEAR.
The teenager had dived in to help but went under, and family friend Charles Johnson II went to help the high schooler but also ended up dying, according to Brooks' father Shivy Brooks.
He said during a press conference streamed by Fox 5 Atlanta: "The selflessness that it takes for someone to make such a sacrifice, to do so at only the age of 16, we’re so proud as parents how our son has shown up in this moment.
"Let it be amplified that Atlanta developed kids that would give up their life for others that they didn’t even know."
Other adults on the beach were able to get Brooks and Johnson out of the water and onto the shore, where life-saving measures were administered.
The pair were then airlifted to hospital but were both tragically pronounced dead, with Brooks having died from cardiac arrest, his father said.
Despite his parents and younger brother's grief, the family has expressed their pride that their eldest son would sacrifice his own life to save others.
His mother, Crystal Brooks, added: "He stepped into his manhood to save these children. That makes me proud. It doesn’t take away an ounce of pain, but it makes me proud of our son."
According to the Daily Mail's reports, Brooks was one of three teenagers who rushed to help the children as three others ran to inform adults about the emergency.
The other two teenagers, who have not been named, managed to make it out of the water while onlookers searched for Brooks and Johnson, who was a father of three.
Despite there being yellow flags warning of moderate currents, there were no lifeguards present at that part of the beach at the time of the incident.
The honor roll student's father added at the press conference: "Being selfless, our son Bryce, while being pulled by the currents himself, literally called for help, not for himself, but he was calling for help for the little kids that he was looking out for.
"Bryce is a hero. He literally saved the lives of four kids at the expense of his own."
A GoFundMe was set up for the family and has amassed over $95,000 in donations at the time of writing.
Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Bryce Brooks and Charles Johnson III at this heartbreaking time.
us3 min(s) read
Published 13:56 05 Mar 2025 GMT
President Donald Trump made a child with cancer an honorary Secret Service agent.
During his speech to Congress on Tuesday (March 4), Trump, 78, recognised Devarjaye “DJ” Daniel, a 13-year-old in the audience who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2018 and was only given five months to live then.
Seated in the House gallery wearing a police officer’s uniform, DJ smiled proudly as his father lifted him up while Trump shared his inspiring story.
“He has always dreamed of becoming a police officer,” the President said. “But in 2018, DJ was diagnosed with brain cancer. That was more than six years ago. Since that time, DJ and his dad have been on a quest to make his dream come true.”
Over the years, DJ has been recognized by law enforcement agencies across the country, and the president took a moment to praise his resilience.
“And tonight, DJ, we’re going to do you the biggest honor of them all,” Trump said, building anticipation in the chamber. “I am asking our new Secret Service director, Sean Curran, to officially make you an agent of the United States.”
Chants of “D-J! D-J!” erupted in the House chamber as Curran stepped forward, handing the teen what appeared to be a Secret Service credential.
The young cancer survivor, overwhelmed with emotion, waved it proudly for the crowd to see as his father lifted him up again. He then put his arms around Curran's shoulders in a hug.
Following the emotional moment, Trump shifted his speech to praise law enforcement and reiterated his stance on crime.
He called for a “mandatory death penalty for anyone who murders a police officer,” arguing that officers should be able to “do their job without fear of their lives being totally destroyed," per The New York Post.
Trump also commended Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for his mission to “get toxins out of our environment, poisons out of our food supply and keep our children healthy and strong”.
The night held another major surprise as the President announced that high school senior Jason Hartley had been accepted into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
Trump recounted how Hartley, the son of a fallen Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy, had dreamed of attending the prestigious academy.
“That’s a hard one to get into,” he remarked before delivering the news. “I’m pleased to inform you your application has been accepted.”
Hartley, who was caught completely off guard, embraced his mother and flashed a thumbs-up, as applause filled the chamber. He also turned around and high-fived DJ.
us3 min(s) read
Published 12:09 22 Jan 2026 GMT
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