By: Addey Lees, American Red Cross

What began as a day at the beach quickly turned into a life-or-death situation for dozens of swimmers caught in dangerous rip currents off the coast of Rhode Island. Luckily, two Red Cross-trained lifeguards were there to act.

Brothers Jayden and Jaxon Grayson of New Canaan, Connecticut were off duty and enjoying a day with their mother when they arrived at East Beach in Westerly, Rhode Island in August 2024. Avid surfers, they brought their boards with plans to head into the water.

However, upon arrival, they quickly realized the conditions were dangerous. At the time, Jaxon was just 15 and a newly certified lifeguard, while Jayden, 17, had only a few years of experience.

“There were offshore hurricane waves reaching upwards of 8 feet,” said Jayden. “Powerful riptides presented all across the shoreline.”

Despite the concerning waves, some beachgoers still went into the water, unaware that powerful rip currents still posed a serious threat. Jayden, Jaxon and others noticed swimmers struggling against the current. They quickly gathered available rescue equipment from a nearby hotel and entered the water, beginning what would become hours of lifesaving rescues.

“We immediately noticed how they were distressed and we quickly sprang into action and began pulling people out,” said Jaxon. “We began pulling them out one at a time, hour after hour. The conditions were most dangerous at the end of the day, when we thought the worst was behind us.”

Throughout the afternoon, the brothers helped rescue upwards of 20 swimmers of all ages, including young children, who had become trapped in the dangerous rip currents and were unable to make it back to shore on their own.

They also spotted two swimmers who had been carried far from the shore. By the time Jayden and Jaxon reached them, the swimmers were submerged and in extreme distress. Despite their own exhaustion after hours of rescue efforts, the brothers remained with the swimmers until rescue boats and emergency personnel came to their aid.

Thanks to the quick thinking of Jayden and Jaxon, everyone involved made it safely back to the shore and returned home to their families that evening. The brothers credit their rigorous lifeguard training for preparing them to handle an emergency of that scale.

NATIONAL LIFESAVING AWARD For their extraordinary actions, Jayden and Jaxon Grayson were recently presented with the American Red Cross Lifesaving Award Certificate of Merit, the highest lifesaving award given to Red Cross-trained individuals. The brothers received their honor on May 20, 2026, at King School in Stamford, where Jayden graduated in 2025 and Jaxon is a member of the class of 2027. Family members, faculty, friends, and community supporters gathered to celebrate their courage and commitment to helping others.

STAY SAFE THIS SUMMER Thanks to the quick thinking of Jayden and Jaxon, everyone involved made it safely back to the shore and returned home to their families that evening. The brothers credit their rigorous lifeguard training for preparing them to handle an emergency of that scale.

With summer heading into full swing, it is important for beachgoers to respect the ocean and understand water safety. Before you head out into the water, the Red Cross recommends keeping these vital safety tips in mind:

How to Avoid Rip Currents

• Check conditions before entering the water: are any warning flags up? Ask a lifeguard about water conditions, beach conditions, and potential hazards.
• While in the water, stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties. Permanent rip currents often exist near these structures.

How to Escape from a Rip Current

• If you are caught in a rip current, stay calm and don’t fight it.
• Swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Then, turn and swim to shore.
• Alternately, float or tread water until you are free of the rip current and then head to shore.
• If you can’t make it to shore, draw attention to yourself by waving and calling for help.

If Someone Else Is Caught in a Rip Current

• If someone is in trouble in the water, get help from a lifeguard.
• If a lifeguard is not available, have someone call 9-1-1.
• Throw the victim something that floats – such as a lifejacket, cooler or inflatable ball – and yell instructions on how to escape the current. Do not attempt a rescue yourself unless you are a trained beach lifeguard.

Learn more at redcross.org/watersafety.