A 26-year-old US Coast Guard rescue swimmer, Scott Ruskin, is being called an “American hero” for rescuing 165 individuals on his first-ever mission during the record-shattering flooding in Central Texas.
Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, a hometown boy from Oxford, New Jersey, was a key player in the emergency mission at Camp Mystic, a Christian summer girls’ camp along the Guadalupe River—one of the most severely affected communities during the record-shattering flood.
Directed On-Ground Medical Response Amidst The Mayhem
Based in Corpus Christi, Texas, Ruskin was the lead triage coordinator on the ground as waters rose. He oversaw emergency medical treatment of the victims while coordinating with the US Coast Guard, Army, and National Guard’s 12 rescue helicopters. His coordination optimized the evacuation and emergency treatment processes in one of the worst-hit areas in the state.
The flood response was his first deployment on active duty. His training and fast thinking saved lives throughout the crisis.
Praised by Homeland Security Chief
US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem turned to X (formerly Twitter) to praise Ruskin’s heroism. “United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin personally rescued a staggering 165 victims during the catastrophic flooding in central Texas. It was his first rescue operation ever and he was the sole triage coordinator on site. Scott Ruskin is an American hero,” Noem said.
From Accounting to Aviation Survival Technician
Prior to becoming a Coast Guard member, Ruskin was an accountant at KPMG. He joined in 2021 and went through the rigorous Aviation Survival Technician (AST) training in Petaluma, California, which is one of the most challenging military training courses in the US.
Since arriving in Corpus Christi, he had remained on-call status while progressing through advanced rescue swimmer training, such as studying the MH-65 Dolphin helicopter systems. The Texas flood mission was his first deployment and became one of the most outstanding rescue missions in recent history.