Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Scott Ruskin Saved Over 160 Campers During Devastating Texas Floods

Another part of America has been battered with devastating floods.

Much like the Carolinas were hit hard with flash flooding in September of last year, South-central Texas was ravaged by flash flooding over the 4th of July weekend. 95 people have already been confirmed deceased, and Camp Mystic – a Christian girls camp located in Texas Hill Country – reported Monday that it is currently grieving the unfathomable loss of 27 campers and counselors.

While dozens of people are still unaccounted for, and the official toll likely won’t be known for weeks (if not months), there are always stories of triumph that come out of these horrible tragedies. This time, the story of Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskin is capturing the attention of the world, since he was one of the first people to respond to Camp Mystic.

Ruskin was on Good Morning America on Monday morning, sharing more about what went down when he and other were sent out to provide assistance to those suddenly affected by the rising flood waters:

“The Coast Guard launched us and decided to send a rescue crew from air station Corpus Cristi at about 6:30 or 7 a.m. on Friday, July 4th. I just happened to be on the duty crew with some of our crew members of the Coast Guard.

They sent us out, we encountered some pretty serious weather. Some of the worst flying we’ve ever dealt with. What should have been an hour flight probably took us seven or eight just to get into the landing zone.”

That right there should tell you just how serious the weather was that severely impacted the Lone Star State. Unfortunately, a delay of a couple of hours can be the difference between life and death for those in peril. Ruskin and his crew did their best to drop down in strategic areas for rescue efforts, and the place Scott Ruskin was dropped was Camp Mystic:

“I got on scene, boots on the ground, at Camp Mystic. Kind of discovered I was the only person there as far as first responders go. I had about 200 kids mostly, all scared, terrified, cold and having probably the worst day of their life. I just needed to triage them, get them to a higher level of care, and get them off the flood zone.”

Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskin is being credited with saving the lives of over 160 children that were staying at the Christian camp when the flood waters hit. With an impressive number like that, you’d think that he was one of the Coast Guard’s most experiences rescue swimmers.

But that wasn’t the case when he was asked by Good Morning America about how many rescue missions he had been on:

“This was my first one. I haven’t had any cases before. I’ve been a rescue swimmer for about a year. Fully trained for about six months. This was my first experience, but I really just kind of relied on the training we get.

Coast Guard rescue swimmer get some of the highest level training in the world. I really just kind of relied on that, just knowing that any of the rescue swimmers in the Coast Guard would have done the exact same – if not better – than me.”

Scott Ruskin is undoubtedly a hero, and I’m happy and feel honored to be able to share his story. I will also point out – just as Ruskin did himself – that there are countless other first responders that have arrived to help those who are in need in South-central Texas that deserve to be called heroes for what they are doing.

Disaster relief and search and rescue workers have to be some of the bravest, selfless people on the planet, and we’re fortunate that here in America, those type of people never shy away from running into the danger to save and help others. Our thoughts and prayers are with Texas and all the families affected by the tragic flooding.The post Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer Scott Ruskin Saved Over 160 Campers During Devastating Texas Floods first appeared on Whiskey Riff.