New Jersey Coast Guard Hero Rescues 165 in Deadly Texas Floods

A 26-year-old U.S. Coast Guard swimmer from New Jersey is being hailed a national hero after rescuing at least 165 people during the catastrophic floods that struck central Texas over the Fourth of July weekend.

Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, on his first-ever rescue mission, was the only triage coordinator on the ground as floodwaters ravaged Camp Mystic, a girls’ Christian camp along the Guadalupe River. With roads and bridges washed out, airlift was the only option to save the stranded campers.

“We heard there were about 200 campers there and they were in need of airlift,” Ruskan told CNN. “Bridges were gone, roadways were gone, and the water was coming up too high for boat rescue.”

Launching from Coast Guard Air Station Corpus Christi, Ruskan and his team braved turbulent weather and flying conditions to reach the scene. Once on the ground, he began organizing triage efforts and personally helped evacuate 165 children using Army Black Hawk helicopters.

“It was overwhelming,” he said during a Monday appearance on Good Morning America. “But I just happened to be on the duty crew. I was doing my job.”

Despite his humility, the nation is taking notice.

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem praised Ruskan’s bravery in a viral social media post, writing:

“Scott Ruskan is an American hero. His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the @USCG.”

As of Monday night, the post had been viewed over 4 million times.

The floods, which followed days of relentless rain, have killed over 100 people across Texas. At least 27 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic are confirmed dead, and 41 more remain missing, according to Governor Greg Abbott.

The White House announced that President Donald Trump is expected to visit Texas on Friday to meet with affected families and assess the damage. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is “praying for the victims’ families” and pledged continued federal support.

“This is a tragedy of unimaginable scale,” Secretary Noem said. “But thanks to heroes like Scott Ruskan, many lives were saved.”