A courageous Coast Guard member who played a vital role in rescuing more than 200 children from Camp Mystic has now shared gripping details of the harrowing ordeal during the catastrophic Texas floods.
The death toll has risen to 91, with many still missing, as the Lone Star State reels from one of its deadliest natural disasters in recent memory.
Relentless torrential rains caused the Guadalupe River to surge dramatically, unleashing devastating floods that swept through communities and shattered lives across Texas.
Among the hardest hit was Camp Mystic — a Christian summer camp for girls nestled along the river in Kerr County. Late last week, the camp released a heartfelt statement mourning the tragic losses suffered during the disaster.
“Our hearts break alongside the families enduring this unimaginable tragedy. We are praying for them constantly,” the camp’s statement read, expressing deep gratitude for the overwhelming support from the community, first responders, and officials at every level.
As of now, ten campers and one counselor remain missing, while CNN reports that 27 campers and counselors tragically lost their lives in the floods.
But thanks to the heroic efforts of 26-year-old Coast Guard member Scott Ruskan, who helped organize the evacuation of 165 people from Camp Mystic on Friday, July 5, the disaster’s toll could have been even more devastating.
The New Jersey native opened up about the harrowing experience and his role in saving so many lives during an emotional interview with Good Morning America.
“I just happened to be on the duty crew,” Ruskan explained. “We decided to leave me on scene at Camp Mystic. That was kind of our main triage site we were trying to help out with.”
“I found myself as the only first responder there, facing about 200 kids—mostly scared, terrified, cold—probably having the worst day of their lives. My job was to triage them, get them to higher medical care, and evacuate them out of the flood zone.”
“We set up two landing zones—one near an archery field and another on a soccer field—where rescue helicopters could safely land. I was the main person coordinating and physically grabbing people to get them on board.”
Scott’s remarkable ability to protect and evacuate the children during the catastrophic floods was rooted in the rigorous, world-class training Coast Guard rescue swimmers undergo.
“Coast Guard rescue swimmers receive some of the highest-level training in the world,” Scott explained. “I really relied on that, knowing any of the rescue swimmers would have done the same, if not better, than me.”
He also paid heartfelt tribute to the children he helped, calling them the “real heroes.”
“They don’t know my experience, my rank, or my age. They just see, ‘Hey, this guy is a professional, and he’s here to help us.’ I knew I had to live up to that standard,” Scott said.
“The true heroes, I believe, were the kids on the ground. They faced one of the hardest moments of their lives with incredible courage.”