{"id":5945,"date":"2026-08-02T08:10:36","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T08:10:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=5945"},"modified":"2026-08-02T08:10:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T08:10:36","slug":"exclusive-family-of-hero-teen-lifeguard-finalizing-plans-for-white-house-visit-after-trump-praised-miraculous-beach-rescue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=5945","title":{"rendered":"Exclusive | Family of hero teen lifeguard finalizing plans for White House visit after Trump praised miraculous beach rescue"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>California\u2019s teenage lifeguard hero could soon be headed to the White House.<\/p>\n<p>The family of 16-year-old Ryder Williams has been contacted by President Donald Trump\u2019s staff after the commander-in-chief vowed to honor the rookie rescuer who saved a drowning 10-year-old boy from pounding surf.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=5943\">Kentucky child killer who stabbed sleeping boy to death released from prison as father slams judicial system<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe White House has contacted us but there\u2019s been no official date or time,\u201d Ryder\u2019s father, retired firefighter Shane Williams, 54, told The California Post on Saturday.<\/p>\n<p>Trump announced the invitation after video of Ryder\u2019s dramatic rescue at Seabright Beach went viral, saying he plans to welcome the teen and his family to Washington, DC, and personally present him with a high civilian honor for his heroism.<\/p>\n<p>Shane said the whirlwind of attention has been overwhelming, but the family is now focused on returning to everyday life as Ryder prepares for his first day of school on Aug. 6.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe just want to get back to normal life and let him start high school and start playing water polo,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>The proud father also welcomed the president\u2019s recognition of his son.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI would love to take my son there and I think he deserves that.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters <\/strong><\/h2>\n<div>\n<p><strong>California Post News<\/strong>: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, YouTube, WhatsApp, LinkedIn<br \/><strong>California Post Sports<\/strong> Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X<br \/><strong>California Post  <\/strong>Opinion <br \/><strong>California Post Newsletters<\/strong>: Sign up here!<br \/><strong>California Post App<\/strong>: Download here!<br \/><strong>Home delivery<\/strong>: Sign up here!<br \/><strong>Page Six Hollywood<\/strong>: Sign up here!<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=5941\">Michael Goodwin: Fauci\u2019s refusal to answer questions at Senate hearing reveals important truth<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Shane said Ryder is not doing interviews outside those arranged through California State Parks. He added that he couldn\u2019t remember which White House staffer had called because his phone had been \u201cblowing up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Shane declined to discuss when the family might travel to Washington and would not say whether Ryder plans to reunite with 10-year-old Nathaniel Rai, saying any updates would come through California State Parks.<\/p>\n<p>Ryder became an overnight hero on July 25 after an 8-to-10-foot sneaker wave dragged Nathaniel, of Dallas, into deep water at Seabright Beach.<\/p>\n<div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The rookie lifeguard battled heavy surf for about two minutes to reach the boy after he blacked out in the water.<\/p>\n<p>Fellow lifeguard Aaron Bohnen swam out to help, and together they brought Nathaniel safely to shore, where he was revived. <\/p>\n<p>The boy is expected to make a full recovery.<\/p>\n<p>The rescue unfolded during a chaotic day that saw Santa Cruz district lifeguards perform 34 rescues.<\/p>\n<p>Nathaniel\u2019s father, Sumit Rai, previously told The Post he was \u201cso grateful\u201d to Ryder for saving his son\u2019s life.<\/p>\n<p>Read more <a href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=5939\">Vincent Pastore supported a \u2018Sopranos\u2019 castmate in his last public appearance before his death<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>See the jaw-dropping footage of 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams battling massive waves to save a young boy\u2014a heroic act that earned him a White House invite.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5945","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-metro"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - 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