US Coast Guard serviceman Scott Ruskin hailed as ‘American hero’ after rescuing 165 lives in Texas floods

CENTRAL POINT, TEXAS: US Coast Guard Petty Officer and Rescue Swimmer Scott Ruskin is earning praise after saving 165 lives during his very first rescue mission amid the devastating Texas floods. The dramatic operation unfolded as historic rainfall between July 4 and July 6 triggered fast-moving flash floods across the region, with up to 13 inches falling in just hours.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem hailed the 26-year-old rescuer as an "American hero," celebrating his courage and triumph in the face of tragedy. His swift actions during the unfolding disaster have captured hearts online and spotlighted the extraordinary bravery of first responders during one of Texas’ deadliest flood events.

Kristi Noem praises Scott Ruskin for his 'selfless courage' after he rescues 165 Texas flood victims

In an X (formerly Twitter) post, Kristi Noem wrote, “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.”

She praised his bravery, calling him “an American hero,” and added, “His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the @USCG."

Ruskin, originally from New Jersey, was at the heart of the emergency response at Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summer camp devastated by the catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River.

As the sole triage coordinator on-site, Ruskin was responsible for assessing injuries and prioritizing care for the flood victims amid the chaos.

With a fleet of 12 rescue helicopters from the Coast Guard, National Guard, and US Army arriving overhead, his leadership on the ground proved vital in organizing medical efforts and ensuring lives were saved during the unfolding crisis.

Internet hails Scott Ruskin as an 'absolute hero' for his incredible feat

Kristi Noem’s tribute to Scott Ruskin struck a chord online, reaching over 3.7 million people and sparking a wave of admiration. More than 2,800 commenters flooded the post with praise, calling him an inspiration to the nation.

One suggested, "@POTUS I would like to recommend this man for the Medal of Freedom," and another prayed, "May God bless him for eternity. Good man."

A person shared, "There are heroes in this country. We need to honor them because of their selfless sacrifices. 165 victims saved is incredible. Thank you you petty officers Scott Ruskin," while someone else added, "God bless you Petty Officer Scott Ruskin and thanks for the selfless heroism. 🙌."

"Unbelievable.  Needs to recognized on a national level," an individual wrote, with another saying, "WHAT AN ABSOLUTE HERO!!!!!!!! God bless Scott Ruskin!!!!! Give him the Gold Lifesaving Medal for this ❤️."

Who is Scott Ruskin?

Scott Ruskin, a native of Oxford, New Jersey, took an unexpected path to heroism. Before joining the military, he worked as an accountant at KPMG. In 2021, seeking a new challenge, he enlisted in the US Coast Guard and was accepted into the elite Aviation Survival Technician (AST) School in Petaluma, California, a program known as one of the most grueling in the US armed forces.

After completing the intense training, Ruskin was stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas, where he remained on standby beginning in November. During that time, he continued honing his skills as a rescue swimmer and received specialized training with the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter.

The devastating floods in Texas marked his first real-world deployment, one that would define his service and demonstrate the extraordinary readiness of a first-time responder under pressure.

Scott Ruskin recalls the traumatic situation while helping bring 165 people to safety

In the aftermath of his lifesaving work in Central Texas, Scott Ruskin spoke to the New York Post about the gravity of the mission and what drives him and his fellow Coast Guard members. “This is why we take those risks all time. This is why like Coast Guard men and women, are risking their lives every day," he said.

Although the flooding occurred outside their typical zone of operation, Ruskin explained the urgency of the situation left no room for hesitation. “People were in danger, and we’re a good asset to try and help people out, and these guys were asking for help, so that’s kind of what we do,” he added.

By 7 am on July 4, Ruskin and his crew were airborne in Black Hawk and Coast Guard MH-65 helicopters. “The best aircrew you could possibly ask for,” he recalled.

Once on the ground, Ruskin took charge of triage, quickly assessing injuries and prioritizing care. But his role soon expanded beyond the medical.

“My main job was triaging, and then my second job I kind of picked up was just trying to comfort these kids and the family members and counselors,” he said. “I mean this is like, probably the worst day of their life. They’re in a terrible situation, they have friends and family unaccounted for, missing, unknown status, and they’re looking to me and all the rescuers for guidance and comfort.”

He described trying to bring calm to a traumatic situation, stating, "It’s like, ‘Hey, I can’t help you guys locate these people, but I can get you guys out of here right now if we just try to remain calm,’ and just trying to comfort everyone as best I could is kind of what I was doing.”

Over the next several hours, Ruskin led a high-risk, high-pressure operation in brutal conditions, successfully helping to bring 165 people to safety. He added, “So we basically got the majority of the people out of Camp Mystic, which is awesome. And I feel like we did a lot of good that day, but obviously it’s still super sad. There’s still a lot of people missing and unaccounted for, so the mission’s not over yet. It’s not over for us."

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