A young Coast Guard rescue swimmer from New Jersey is being hailed as a national hero after saving 165 people during the devastating flash floods that struck Central Texas.
Amazingly, the heroic actions of 26-year-old Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Ruskan were during the first rescue mission of his career.
Ruskanemerged as a frontline figure in the response to the deadly disaster, coordinating triage and performing rescues under extreme conditions.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem publicly recognized his heroism, calling him the embodiment of American courage and duty.
“United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin (Ruskan), directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas,” Noem posted to X.
“This was the first rescue mission of his career, and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene.
“Scott Ruskin is an American hero.
“His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the @USCG.”
United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, 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 Ruskin is…
— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) July 6, 2025
Ruskan, who spoke with “Fox and Friends,” recounted the moment he and his team identified the now-infamous Camp Mystic as a critical focus point during the disaster response.
“We were in the air and saw a huge crowd of about 200 kids at a campsite,” he said.
“So we’re like, cool, that’s where we’re gonna go, and we’re just gonna get as many people out as we can until they’re all gone.
“We probably got about 200 people out of there alone,” Ruskan added.
He explained that many of their orders had come directly from the Army.
“A lot of it has just been large state triages,” he noted.
The scale of the tragedy continues to unfold.
As of Sunday at 1:30 p.m., the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office reported a heartbreaking death toll of 68 people, including 28 children.
Authorities confirmed 10 Camp Mystic campers and one counselor remain unaccounted for.
The sheriff’s office posted on Facebook:
“Among those who are deceased, we have 40 adults and 28 children.
“Eighteen adults are pending identification, and 10 children, also pending identification.”
Texas law enforcement and federal responders are still conducting a massive search and rescue operation, using every available resource, including helicopters, boats, K9 units, and aerial surveillance, to locate the missing and recover victims.
“We continue to have hundreds of officers, deputies, and support staff working every aspect of this emergency, along with air, water, K9, and other assets conducting search and rescue,” the sheriff’s department stated.
The flood has already been called one of the deadliest natural disasters in Texas in recent memory.
The disaster has been prompting strong words and swift action from state and federal leaders.
And amid the tragedy, stories like Scott Ruskan’s are a reminder of the quiet bravery that defines America’s first responders.
READ MORE – Nine-Year-Old Hero Uses Trick He Learned on YouTube to Save Classmate’s Life
Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.
To join, create a free account HERE.
If you are already a member, log in HERE.