Washington, Aug 18 (HS): US President Donald Trump on Monday felicitated 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder Williams for rescuing a 10-year-old Indian-origin boy from being swept away by powerful waves at a California beach last month.

Trump welcomed Williams and his family members, along with the rescued boy Nathaniel Rai, his sister Layla and their father Sumit Rai, at the Oval Office of the White House.

“I want to congratulate Nathaniel Rai for coming through an ordeal. That means you are going to have good luck in life,” Trump said while speaking to the boy.

Lauding Williams for the rescue, Trump called him “a real hero” and said the boy was fortunate to have been saved.

Williams rescued Nathaniel on July 25 after the boy was caught in powerful waves at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz, California. A video of the rescue later went viral on social media and caught the President's attention.

Williams said he saw Nathaniel lose his footing in ankle-deep water about 20 yards from the lifeguard tower to which he was assigned. He immediately ran towards the boy to bring him out of the water.

“In those dangerous moments that we have, we always try to fall back on our training,” Williams said, explaining that lifeguards are trained to respond quickly in such situations.

Williams' parents, Shane and Shannon, and another lifeguard, Aaron Bonin, who assisted in the rescue, were also present at the Oval Office.

Nathaniel's father Sumit Rai expressed gratitude to the lifeguards for saving his son's life.

Trump had earlier announced that he would invite Williams and his family to the White House after seeing the video of the rescue.

During the visit, Trump also said the visitors would be shown around President Abraham Lincoln's bedroom, which Lincoln used as his office and Cabinet Room and where he signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar