safety
Boy doesn't remember dramatic rescue by lifeguard from pounding Santa Cruz surf
Summary by The San Francisco Editorial Desk Kendria Lafleur | The Associated Press and Jeffrey Collins | The Associated Pres , as published by NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC)
· August 4, 2026
· 1 min read
Photo: NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) · view original
Story provenance No corrections
Summary created by The San Francisco Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed Byline on source page Kendria Lafleur | The Associated Press and Jeffrey Collins | The Associated Pres, as published by NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) Original story Read at the source Source published Aug 4, 2026 Indexed here Aug 4, 2026 AI assistance Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text Prepublication human review No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples
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Key takeaway A 10-year-old boy was swept away by a giant wave in ankle-deep water at Seabright Beach.
A dramatic rescue occurred off the Santa Cruz coast, about 60 miles from San Francisco . A 10-year-old boy was swept away by a giant wave in ankle-deep water at Seabright Beach. A 16-year-old lifeguard, Ryder Williams, came to his aid, clinging to the boy as waves crashed over them.
The boy lost consciousness and went limp, making it impossible to use a rescue tube. Further details of the rescue are available from the source, including an account from the boy, who does not remember the incident and is now recovering with his family.
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Category: safety Published: August 4, 2026 Source: NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) Reading time: 1 min
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A dramatic rescue occurred off the Santa Cruz coast, about 60 miles from San Francisco. A 10-year-old boy was swept away by a giant wave in ankle-deep water at Seabright Beach. A 16-year-old…
When was this published? This article was first published on August 4, 2026 by NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) and curated for The San Francisco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Kendria Lafleur | The Associated Press and Jeffrey Collins | The Associated Pres at NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC). To learn more about how The San Francisco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The San Francisco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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