Coast Guard rescue swimmer saves over 200 from Texas floods in first mission
A U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer is being called an American hero by many after he rescued over 200 people from the deadly floods that took place in Texas the weekend of July 4th.
“This was the first rescue mission of his career, and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene,” Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem said Saturday on X. “His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the @USCG.”
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, an aviation survival technician 3rd class stationed in Corpus Christi, directly saved 165 people from rising floodwaters in Kerr County, said Noem.
While many reports state he is directly responsible for rescuing 165 people, he was left with 230 flood victims in total at the campgrounds, according to the U.S. Coast Guard's press release. He provided medical assistance and aided in evacuating them.
Texas floods cause devastation
Over the weekend, storms inundated central Texas with rain, leading to flash floods and at least 104 deaths, including at least 27 children and counselors at an all-girls Christian camp, Camp Mystic.
The torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to surge 26 feet in just 45 minutes, washing away homes, cars and entire campgrounds.
In Kerr County, Texas, which was most impacted by the floods, at least 56 adults and 28 children were killed.
Ruskan details his first rescue
Ruskan was sent to Camp Mystic, where he found himself alone with around 200 children who were "all scared, terrified, cold, having probably the worst day of their lives," Ruskan said in an interview with Good Morning America.
“I saw a huge crowd of about 200 kids at a campsite,” he said during an appearance on “Fox & Friends” on the morning of July 5. “We were like, ‘Cool, that’s where we’re going to go and get as many people out as we can.’”
This was Ruskan's first rescue mission, he said.
"I really just relied on the training we get," said Ruskan. "Coast Guard rescue swimmers get some of the highest-level training in the world."
Coast Guard's response to Texas flash floods
The Coast Guard and a unified command responded to the affected areas after it received a report on Friday, July 4, at around 5:57 a.m. from the Texas A&M Task Force, according to a press release published on the Coast Guard's website.
The Coast Guard rescued three and assisted four others in a mobile home community in Leander. Texas.
“The preservation of life during this incident is our top priority,” Capt. Ulysses S. Mullins, The Coast Guard Heartland District Chief of Staff, said in a statement. "Which is why the Coast Guard is working with the State of Texas alongside other responding agencies to ensure that every asset on scene is able to coordinate, communicate and respond as [safely] and quickly as possible."
Who is Petty Officer Scott Ruskan?
Ruskan, who grew up in New Jersey, graduated from Rider University in 2021.
Ruskan’s LinkedIn page lists him as a rescue swimmer with the Coast Guard since 2022. His actions have drawn national attention as the region continues its recovery efforts.
This story has been updated to reflect the Coast Guard's updated rescue total for Petty Officer Scott Ruskan.
Julia is a trending reporter for Paste BN. Connect with her on LinkedIn,X, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com