A 10-year-old boy who was rescued from dangerous waves at a California beach has spoken publicly about the incident that nearly cost him his life. Nathaniel Rai recounted the frightening experience during an interview on Tuesday, describing how he initially hesitated to enter the turbulent surf at Santa Cruz.

Nathaniel said he was encouraged to swim by a woman named Anna despite his concerns about the size of the waves. "She told me I could swim in the water, and I told her I didn’t want to because the waves were too big," he said. He stayed close to the shore but was soon caught by the strong currents. "I tripped, and then I got pulled," Nathaniel recalled.

The boy was rescued by 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams, who pulled him from the water before the situation became fatal. Nathaniel said he feared for his life prior to the rescue. "Before the lifeguard came, I thought I was going to die," he said. Nathaniel expressed gratitude to Ryder and even mentioned that they share an interest in mixed martial arts.

Nathaniel’s father, Sumit Rai, praised the lifeguard for his quick and courageous response. “The resilience that he showed to hold him through those rip currents, that water pressure, those torrential waves and be able to withstand that because at that point, Nathaniel was already unconscious,” Sumit Rai said. “He had gone limp. He wasn’t breathing, and you know, was basically dead weight, and he’s about 100 pounds. So, you know, it’s an incredible physical feat.”

Sumit added that Ryder performed perfectly under pressure, risking his own safety to save his son’s life. The rescue has drawn attention beyond the local community, with public figures, including former President Donald Trump, commending the lifeguard’s heroism.