Coast Guard Swimmer Rescues More Than 200 During Texas Floods in First Mission

This is the story of a first mission that turned a rookie into a hero. A young U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer in Texas was thrown into a crisis just days after finishing their training.

When massive floods hit, he stepped up in a big way, saving countless lives.

On July 4, 2025, central Texas faced a disaster. Torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to surge over 20 feet in just hours, flooding homes, roads, and a summer camp called Camp Mystic.

Hundreds of people, including many young girls at the camp, were trapped with no way out. Bridges were gone, and boats couldn’t navigate the raging waters. The only hope was rescue by air.

U.S. Coast Guard Hero: A Rookie’s Brave First Mission

How did the U.S. Coast Guard hero manage to save 165 people in Texas?

Scott Ruskan, a 26-year-old from New Jersey, had just completed his Coast Guard rescue swimmer training six months earlier.

On the morning of the floods, he was on duty at the Coast Guard Air Station in Corpus Christi when the call came in.

His team flew through dangerous weather to reach Camp Mystic, a girls’ Christian summer camp in Hunt, Texas.

When they arrived, Ruskan was left on the ground to organize the rescue while helicopters carried people to safety.

For three hours, Ruskan was the only first responder at the camp. He faced about 200 scared, cold, and muddy children who had fled rising waters.

Many had no shoes, having escaped their cabins in a hurry. Ruskan stayed calm, comforting the kids and organizing them into groups of 10 to 15 for airlift by Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopters.

His quick thinking and training helped save 165 lives that day.

Teamwork and Courage

Ruskan wasn’t alone in the effort. His Coast Guard team, including Lt. Ian Hopper, Lt. Blair Ogujiofor, and flight mechanic Seth Reeves, worked alongside the Texas National Guard and Texas Task Force 1.

He said for an interview, “We decided to leave me on scene at Camp Mystic. That was kind of our main triage site we were trying to help out with,”

He explained that the plan was to create more room on the rescue helicopter, allowing more victims to be transported to safety.

“I kind of discovered 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. And I just kind of needed to triage them, get them to a higher level of care and get ’em off the flood zone.”

Together, they evacuated hundreds from the flood zone. Ruskan praised the teenage camp counselors who helped save younger campers by pushing them through windows and doors to escape the floodwaters.

“We kind of came up with two different landing zones. There was one off an archery field and then one in a soccer field. We were able to kind of land those 60s [helicopters] in there. I was kind of the main guy as far as grabbing people,” he said.

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Talking about how did he manage to save so many he said;

“I really just kind of relied on the training we get. Coast Guard rescue swimmers get some of the highest level training in the world. So really just kind of relied on that, just knowing that any of the rescue swimmers in the Coast Guard would have done the exact same if not better than me”.

He called the kids and counselors the “real heroes” for their bravery saying,

“The real heroes, I think, were the kids on the ground,” he told GMA in the interview. “Those guys are heroic, and they were dealing with some of the worst times of their lives, and they were staying strong. That helped inspire me to get in there and help them out.”

He also mentioned that he felt a responsibility to perform to the highest standard saying,

“They don’t really know what my experience is or my rank or my age,” he said. “They just know, ‘Hey this guy is a professional, and he’s here to help us.’ And I kind of had to live up to that standard.”

The floods were devastating, claiming at least 27 lives at Camp Mystic, including the camp’s director, Dick Eastman, who died trying to save others.

Despite the tragedy, Ruskan’s actions brought hope. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called him an “American hero” for his courage. Ruskan, humble about his role, said he was just doing his job and relied on his Coast Guard training.

A Lasting Impact

Ruskan’s story is a reminder of what bravery looks like. A former accountant who joined the Coast Guard in 2021, he found his calling in saving lives.

His first mission showed the power of preparation and heart. As Texas continues to recover from the floods, with over 100 lives lost and many still missing, Ruskan’s efforts stand out as a beacon of hope.

The Coast Guard and other agencies are still searching for survivors and helping those affected. Ruskan’s actions, along with the teamwork of first responders, saved many lives.

His story inspires us to appreciate the courage of those who risk everything to help others in times of crisis.

You might also want to read: Young Camp Mystic Staff Describe Haunting Choice to Write Campers’ Names on Their Skin as Texas Flood Toll Rises