The family of the boy rescued by a 16-year-old Santa Cruz lifeguard in a dramatic and heart-pounding viral video described the intensely emotional surf rescue for the first time.

"Another two of three seconds, I don't think my son would have made it," said Sumit Rai, the father of the rescued 10-year-old, Nathaniel.

Rai said he received a phone call Saturday night that he never expected. His son, Nathaniel, who was vacationing in California with Rai's wife and 8-year-old daughter, told him he had been involved in a drowning accident earlier that day.

"We're just lucky -- fortunate, because of Ryder and those people that helped, that he actually survived this," Rai said.

According to Rai, Nathaniel lost consciousness during the incident.

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A boy was rescued by lifeguards Saturday at a Santa Cruz beach, and intense video shows them battling powerful waves while working to bring him to safety.

"From what I gathered, he assumed he was going to die. He was drowning. He knew he was drowning. He blacked out. He went unconscious. When he came out of the water, he was clearly limp. It doesn't look like he was breathing," Rai said.

Nathaniel survived thanks to the actions of 16-year-old Santa Cruz lifeguard Ryder Williams. Fellow lifeguard, Aaron Bohnen, and others also helped during the rescue.

The approximately two-minute incident at Seabright Beach was captured on video by Scott Vander Dussen.

"If the lifeguards weren't there, it would've had a different ending," Vander Dussen said.

Rai expressed gratitude to everyone involved in saving his son's life.

"God bless them and, you know, thank you. I cannot express sufficient gratitude. There's nothing more valuable to me than my children. And so to save one of them and their lives, especially at such a young tender age, you know, which is such a premature way to lose someone. I can't thank them enough," Rai said.

Williams has since received praise from across the country, including from President Donald Trump, who has invited him to the White House to receive a civilian honor.

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Congressman Jimmy Panetta, who represents Santa Cruz, called Williams' actions remarkable.

"We are very proud of this young man and his first rescue, and are grateful that his inspiring actions were caught on video so that the world gets to see what our amazing local lifeguards do on a daily basis in Santa Cruz," Panetta said.

Rai said Williams, Bohnen and the other people who assisted during the rescue all deserve recognition.

"I think he deserves every medal and award and honor that's possible. So does Aaron, you know, everyone that helped, the good Samaritans," Rai said.

Nathaniel continues to recover from the traumatic experience and remains in California, Rai said. Reflecting on the rescue video, Rai said he remains grateful for the lifeguards and bystanders who stepped in to help.

"If I was watching that video, I wasn't sure if he'll make it, if I hadn't seen the end of it. And I wasn't sure, honestly, if the lifeguard would make it out with those conditions. I'm just so grateful that Ryder and others were there to help pull him out and save his life. Otherwise, I can't imagine what life would look like today," Rai said.

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