Nathaniel Rai said much of the experience remains a blur, but he remembers fearing for his life as waves pulled him into the water.
"I'm just glad I was saved," Nathaniel said.
The boy recalled being swept away by the current and calling for help.
"When I was first pulled in and started screaming, help!" he said.
Nathaniel was in Santa Cruz with his mother and sister when he was caught in rough water conditions. He said he believed he would continue being pulled farther out.
VIDEO: Father of boy saved in dramatic Santa Cruz surf rescue says son 'assumed he was going to die'
Father of boy in Santa Cruz surf rescue: 'My son told me he drowned'
"Well, I thought I was going to just keep getting pulled. And I went unconscious I think, and when I woke up, I saw Ryder, another lifeguard, and like a bunch of other people trying to help," Nathaniel recalled.
Ryder Williams, a 16-year-old lifeguard, said he noticed the child in trouble and entered the water to help.
"As I grab the child, he goes limp so I'm thinking about if he is unconscious or not," Williams said in a social media post.
Williams said the conditions made the rescue difficult, even with his training.
"The whole time I was thinking I just need to hold my position until my partner can get here because I'm not going to get him out on my own," he said.
Another lifeguard and several beachgoers joined the rescue effort.
VIDEO: Heart-pounding video shows intense waves as lifeguards rescue boy at California beach
"Thank you so much for saving my life," he said.
Nathaniel said he swallowed water and sand during the ordeal and was coughing after reaching shore.
"I hurt my back a little bit, but it's almost healed now," he said.
About a week and a half after the rescue, Nathaniel said he is feeling better. His father, Sumit Rai, said he was stunned after seeing video of the large waves involved in the incident.
"He was seconds away from certain death," Sumit said. "It's a miracle that he's alive. Ryder, I'm so eternally grateful to him. The courage and leadership he showed jumping into those deadly water conditions to pull Nathaniel out. Another couple seconds, Nathaniel would have been thrown 15 to 20 feet deeper into the water."
For Nathaniel, the moment remains one he will not forget.
"I'm super thankful for him saving my life," he said.