The White House has reached out to the family of 16-year-old rookie lifeguard Ryder Williams to arrange a visit after President Trump announced plans to honor the California teen for his rescue of a drowning boy.

Shane Williams, Ryder's 54-year-old father and a retired firefighter, confirmed the contact in an interview with The California Post on Saturday. The White House called the family after Trump publicly announced he would invite Ryder and his family to Washington, D.C., and personally present the teen with a high civilian honor for his heroism. No official date or time for the visit has been set.

Shane Williams said his phone had been "blowing up" since the announcement. He could not even remember which White House staffer had called.

"The White House has contacted us but there's been no official date or time."

The invitation followed a July 25 rescue at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz, California, that went viral after video of the incident spread online. Trump made his announcement days later, on or around July 28.

An 8-to-10-foot sneaker wave nearly killed a 10-year-old from Dallas

Nathaniel Rai, a 10-year-old boy visiting from Dallas, was dragged into deep water by an 8-to-10-foot sneaker wave, a sudden, powerful surge that catches beachgoers off guard. The boy blacked out in the water.

Ryder Williams, on one of his first shifts as a rookie lifeguard for California State Parks, fought through heavy surf for roughly two minutes to reach Nathaniel. Fellow lifeguard Aaron Bohnen swam out to help. Together, the two brought the boy to shore, where he was revived.

Nathaniel is expected to make a full recovery. His father, Sumit Rai, previously told The California Post he was "so grateful" to Ryder for saving his son's life.

The rescue was one of 34 performed by Santa Cruz district lifeguards that single day, a measure of how dangerous conditions were along the coast on July 25.

Shane Williams wants his son to have the honor, and then get back to normal

For all the national attention, the Williams family is trying to keep Ryder's life on track. Shane Williams told reporters his son's first day of high school is August 6, and the family's priority is letting Ryder settle into the school year and play water polo.

"We just want to get back to normal life and let him start high school and start playing water polo."

But the retired firefighter also made clear he sees the White House visit as something his son has earned.

"I would love to take my son there and I think he deserves that."

Ryder himself has not given interviews outside those arranged through California State Parks. Shane Williams also declined to discuss whether a reunion between Ryder and Nathaniel Rai is in the works, saying any updates on that front would come through California State Parks as well.

Trump has used the power of the presidency before to recognize Americans in moments of service and sacrifice. He traveled to Dover to honor fallen service members after Iranian strikes killed three troops, and he has made a pattern of spotlighting individual acts of courage that cut through the noise of Washington.

The specific civilian honor Trump intends to present has not been disclosed. Neither the White House nor California State Parks has announced a firm date for the visit.

A rookie lifeguard, a viral rescue, and a country that noticed

What drew the president's attention, and the country's, was the video. Footage of a teenage lifeguard battling violent surf to reach a child who had lost consciousness spread rapidly online, and Trump responded with a public invitation within days.

The story stands apart from the usual cycle of political combat in Washington. It is a straightforward account of a young man who did his job under extreme pressure and saved a child's life. That Trump moved quickly to recognize it says something about the kind of moments this White House chooses to elevate.

Shane Williams spent a career as a firefighter. He knows what it means to run toward danger. Now his 16-year-old son has done the same, and the president of the United States wants to shake his hand.

Several open questions remain. Whether Ryder and Nathaniel will meet again, what honor Trump will bestow, and when the family will travel to Washington are all unresolved. For now, the Williams family is balancing a flood of media attention with the more immediate reality of a new school year and a teenager trying to be a teenager.

In a country that spends most of its time arguing about what's wrong, it's worth pausing for a kid who got something very right, and a president willing to say so.