Petty Officer Scott Ruskan hailed as “American hero” after lifesaving efforts at Camp Mystic

TEXAS— A 26-year-old Coast Guard rescue swimmer is being called an “American hero” after saving 165 people during his first-ever rescue mission amid catastrophic flooding in Central Texas. Petty Officer Scott Ruskan, a New Jersey native, was dispatched to Camp Mystic, one of the hardest-hit areas along the Guadalupe River.

The camp, a Christian summer retreat for girls, was inundated after torrential rains caused widespread devastation across the Texas Hill Country, leading to dozens of deaths and ongoing rescue operations.

Coordinated Medical Response Under Fire

Despite being on his first deployment, Ruskan was the only triage coordinator on site, organizing emergency medical care as 12 helicopters from the Coast Guard, National Guard, and U.S. Army worked in tandem to evacuate stranded individuals.

“We probably got about 200 people out of there alone… we just saw a huge crowd of kids at a campsite and said, ‘That’s where we’re going,’” Ruskan told Fox & Friends.

Praised by Homeland Security and the Nation

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem publicly praised Ruskan on X (formerly Twitter), writing:

“United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskan directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in Central Texas. This was the first rescue mission of his career… Scott Ruskan is an American hero.”

Images of Ruskan on the scene organizing care while coordinating helicopter evacuations have since gone viral.

From Accountant to Rescue Swimmer

Raised in Oxford, New Jersey, Ruskan previously worked as an accountant at KPMG before enlisting in the U.S. Coast Guard in 2021. He trained as an Aviation Survival Technician in Petaluma, California, and was later stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he continued advanced training with MH-65 Dolphin helicopters.

The Texas mission marked the first time Ruskan was deployed to an actual disaster zone.

Tragedy at Camp Mystic Raises Questions

The devastation at Camp Mystic was part of a broader emergency in Kerr County, where at least 59 people died in floodwaters. Critics have since questioned whether early flood warnings from the National Weather Service were acted upon quickly enough, especially for vulnerable sites like youth summer camps.

U.S. Representative Chip Roy, who represents the district, acknowledged the growing scrutiny:

“There’s going to be a lot of finger-pointing… people asking ‘why’ and ‘how,’ and I understand that.”

Outlook and Impact

As search efforts continue and questions swirl over disaster preparedness, one bright light has been Ruskan’s heroic actions. His rescue efforts not only saved lives but also showcased the critical role of first responders in moments of chaos.

“It gives all of us hope to keep working harder and faster,” said Cord Shiflet, a member of the rescue team that found two girls clinging to a tree 27 feet above ground after surviving the floodwaters for over 24 hours.