Heroic Coast Guard Swimmer Averts Tragedy Amid Rising Texas Flood Casualties

A recent publication by Good morning America highlights the astonishing bravery of U.S. coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan, who heroically saved 165 people during his initial mission amid the catastrophic floods in Texas last week. Alongside him, 65 other aircrew members, including Lt. Ian Hopper adn Flight Mechanic Seth Reeves, received commendations from the Department of Homeland Security for their valiant actions during this critical operation.

Ruskan, a 26-year-old originally from New Jersey, shared his experience on Monday. “I was just part of the duty crew,” he explained. “We decided I should stay at Camp Mystic since it was our main triage site.” He quickly realized he was alone as a first responder in an area filled with around 200 frightened children facing what could be described as one of their worst days ever. His immediate goal became clear: to assess their needs and ensure they received proper care away from the floodwaters.

The Coast Guard swimmer collaborated closely with members of the United states Army National Guard to facilitate safe evacuations. “We identified two landing zones—one on an archery field and another on a soccer field—where we could land our helicopters,” he recounted while emphasizing his role in assisting those in distress.

The flooding crisis began early on July 4th when heavy rains caused severe flash flooding along the Guadalupe River near Kerrville, leading to widespread devastation. The call for coast Guard support came around 5:57 AM when personnel from Texas A&M Task Force 1 sought help with rescue operations.

In response to this urgent need, MH-65 Dolphin helicopters and HC-144 Ocean Sentry Aircraft were dispatched from Air Stations located in Corpus Christi and Houston.Over twelve flights were conducted to reach affected areas; among those rescued were campers at Camp Mystic and residents from a mobile home community in Leander.

Captain Ulysses S. Mullins of the Coast Guard Heartland District emphasized that saving lives remained their utmost priority throughout this incident while acknowledging effective collaboration between various agencies involved.

Tragically, as reported by local authorities on July 7th, these floods have resulted in at least 81 fatalities across six counties—with Kerr County bearing a significant loss that includes both adults and children connected to Camp Mystic’s community.

In light of these events, President Donald Trump has declared a major disaster for Kerr County—a region situated west of Austin—as multiple organizations continue working tirelessly alongside local law enforcement to aid recovery efforts amidst this ongoing crisis.