A routine Saturday at a crowded Santa Cruz beach turned into a dramatic fight for survival when a powerful sneaker wave pulled a 10-year-old boy into the ocean.
In this interview, photographer Scott Vander Duen explains how he spotted the child being dragged through the surf and alerted nearby lifeguards. He then captured the extraordinary moment 16-year-old lifeguard Ryder rushed into the crashing waves and brought the exhausted boy safely back to shore.
Scott takes us behind the viral rescue footage, describing the dangerous ocean conditions, the reaction of the stunned crowd and the moment he feared the rescue might not end well. He also shares how the video spread around the world, gained the attention of the White House and brought new recognition to the training, courage and humility of professional lifeguards.
The conversation also raises a surprising question: Why aren’t lifeguards universally recognized as first responders?
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