Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Credited with Saving 165 People [WATCH]

A newly assigned U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer is being credited with saving the lives of more than 160 people during catastrophic flooding in central Texas last weekend.

Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, 26, had just begun his first deployment with the Coast Guard when the deadly flash floods swept through the area.

AMERICAN HERO 🇺🇸

As catastrophic floods swept through Central Texas, Rescue Swimmer Scott Ruskan and his Coast Guard aircrew answered the call of duty without hesitation—saving 165 lives during his first rescue mission.

The extraordinary bravery and selfless service of Ruskan… pic.twitter.com/oDoOCjF6sN

— Homeland Security (@DHSgov) July 7, 2025

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Ruskan had recently left New Jersey for his first duty station in Texas when the flooding struck.

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The Guadalupe River surged rapidly from three feet to 34 feet in just 90 minutes, devastating areas across Kerr County and overwhelming Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ sleepaway camp located just outside San Antonio.

Speaking from his post in central Texas, Ruskan described his reaction to being called into action.

“This is what it’s all about, right? Like, this is why we do the job,” Ruskan said in an interview.

Petty Officer Ruskan was assigned to triage and search efforts at Camp Mystic, where 27 people, including several campers, have been confirmed dead.

Among the deceased were two sisters whose bodies were found together.

Authorities stated that ten campers and one counselor remain unaccounted for.

“This is why we take those risks all time. This is why like Coast Guard men and women are risking their lives every day,” Ruskan said.

Raised in Oxford, New Jersey, Ruskan joined the U.S. Coast Guard in 2021.

He completed basic training followed by Aviation Survival Technician school in Petaluma, California, before being stationed in Corpus Christi.

Since November, he had been undergoing advanced swim training and familiarizing himself with the Coast Guard’s MH-65 helicopter fleet in preparation for the Texas flood season.

On July 4, the state’s Task Force 1 contacted the Texas National Guard requesting additional search and rescue personnel in response to the worsening situation.

Ruskan, part of a unit outside the immediate area of operation, was called in.

“That’s a little bit outside our area of operation normally, but people were in danger, and we’re a good asset to try and help people out, and these guys were asking for help, so that’s kind of what we do,” he said.

By 7 a.m. on Saturday, Ruskan and fellow responders from the National Guard, Department of Public Safety, and Texas game wardens were flying in Black Hawk and MH-65 helicopters toward the flooded campgrounds.

Ruskan described the crew as “literally the best aircrew we could possibly have.”

Appearing on Good Morning America on Monday, Ruskan shared more about the difficulties involved in reaching the flooded area.

“We encountered some of the worst flying we’ve ever dealt with. What should’ve been an hour flight probably took us about seven or eight, just to get into the landing zone,” Ruskan explained.

“Once we made about four different approaches trying to get in, we were able to get boots on the ground.”

Upon landing at Camp Mystic, Ruskan found he was the only first responder on scene.

“I got on scene, boots on the ground in Camp Mystic. Kind of discovered that I was the only person there, as far as first responders go. So I had about 200 kids mostly, all scared, terrified, cold, having probably the worst day of their life, so I needed to triage them, get them to a higher level of care, and get them off the flood zone.”

In addition to triaging and preparing victims for transport, Ruskan directed helicopters to locate and extract isolated groups of survivors still trapped throughout the flood zone.

Black Hawk and MH-65 helicopters conducted continuous rotations as survivors were identified from the air.

“My main job was triaging, and then my second job I kind of picked up was just trying to comfort these kids and the family members and counselors,” Ruskan said.

“I mean this is like probably the worst day of their life. They’re in a terrible situation, they have friends and family unaccounted for, missing, unknown status, and they’re looking to me and all the rescuers for guidance and comfort.”

Search efforts are ongoing. Public safety officials continue to work with federal and state resources to locate those still missing.

President Donald Trump is expected to visit the region later this week to meet with families and assess federal recovery efforts.

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