In a true display of American heroism, the brave actions of a single person saved the lives of 165 innocent children during catastrophic Texas floods.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, a 26-year-old from New Jersey, braved raging waters and impossible conditions during his very first mission as a rescue swimmer.
He stayed behind with terrified children while putting others’ lives before his own.
The dramatic rescue unfolded as the Guadalupe River rose an astonishing 26 feet in just 45 minutes, destroying bridges and roadways throughout Kerr County, Texas.
Ruskan’s helicopter crew from Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi attempted four times to reach the disaster zone through severe weather before finally making it to Camp Mystic, where children were stranded as floodwaters continued to rise.
“They were in need of airlift. There was no other way to get them out. Bridges were gone, roadways were gone, and the water was coming up too high for boat rescue. The only option was airlift,” explained Ruskan.
Upon arrival, Ruskan made a critical decision that likely saved dozens more lives.
He volunteered to stay behind at the camp while the helicopter transported children to safety, becoming the sole first responder on site for about three hours with no radio communication.
“We decided the best course of action was to leave me there,” said Ruskan, who gave up his spot on the helicopter to allow more children to be evacuated, prioritizing the youngest campers first.
“It was pretty traumatic. You have a lot of kids who are having probably the worst day of their life, they are missing friends, they are missing loved ones, they don’t know where they are,” Ruskan recounted.
Yesterday, I had the honor of meeting @USCG Petty Officer Scott Ruskan while on the ground in Kerrville, Texas.
On Officer Ruskan’s first rescue mission of his career, he saved the lives of over 165 individuals.
As Texans, we are eternally grateful for his service. pic.twitter.com/K3OKbA6OGY
— Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) July 8, 2025
His selfless actions did not go unnoticed by national leadership. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly recognized his exceptional service.
She stated, “Scott Ruskan directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas.”
“This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene. Scott Ruskan is an American hero. His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the USCG,” Noem added.
The devastating floods claimed more than 100 lives across central Texas, with 27 deaths at Camp Mystic alone and 11 still unaccounted for.
Governor Greg Abbott deployed over 1,500 personnel and 925 vehicles in response to the disaster, while the Texas National Guard rescued 366 people by air and 159 by ground.
Ruskan joined the Coast Guard during the COVID pandemic while studying at Rider University.
Despite the mission being the first of his career, he handled the high-pressure situation with remarkable composure, focusing on reassuring terrified children while coordinating the complex evacuation efforts.
This single rescue operation in Kerr County saved more people than the Coast Guard typically rescues in the entire region over a full year.
Despite the newfound praise and recognition, Ruskan stayed humble, crediting his team and training rather than seeking personal acclaim.
“I really relied on the training we got. Coast Guard swimmers get some of the highest rescue training in the world,” he told reporters. “Any of the rescue swimmers in the Coast Guard would have done the same thing.”
