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Texas flooding hero: In his own words
Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Ruskan of the U.S. Coast Guard joined FOX & Friends on Monday morning to talk about his role in the flood rescue efforts. Ruskan is credited with saving almost 200 people. (Video via FOX News Channel)
Petty Officer Scott Ruskan is being hailed as a hero after rescuing 165 flood victims during his very first rescue mission amid the catastrophic flooding that struck central Texas late last week.
In an appearance on "Fox & Friends" Monday morning, the 26-year-old Coast Guard rescue swimmer said he and his helicopter crew were "battling some pretty bad weather" for around five or six hours before he was able to get on scene in the Hunt area.
Scott Ruskan, Coast Guard member, saves flood victims
What they're saying:
"Once we got on scene, we were boots on the ground," he said. "We made the decision to leave me there, we figured we would be able to hoist more people out on our helicopter with me not on it and then I would be able to help out the scene at Camp Mystic a little bit better."
Ruskan added, "A lot of people looking very scared, very tired, cold. Missing loved ones. Probably terrified, honestly. And I was just trying to be a voice of calm and triage these people and get them to safety as soon as we could."
Photo of Scott Ruskan (Credit: Perry Shirzad, USCG)
Ruskan mentioned that other crews were getting into the water on Friday, "risking way more" than he was.
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"I was just doing my job," he added.
Top US officials call Ruskan an ‘American hero’
Dig deeper:
His actions during the flooding near Camp Mystic along the Guadalupe River have drawn national attention and recognition from top U.S. officials.
RELATED: Coast Guard rescue swimmer hailed as hero for saving 165 in Texas flooding
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, posted about Ruskan's recovery efforts on X on Friday, calling him an "American Hero".
Law enforcement officials recover a body along the Guadalupe River in Kerrville, Texas on Sunday, July 6, 2025. (Credit: Desiree Rios for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
"United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas," she wrote, adding, "This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene. Scott Ruskin is an American hero. His selfless courage embodies the spirit and mission of the @USCG."
Texas House Representative Rafael Anchia also highlighted the Coast Guard rescue swimmer on his social media account Monday.
The Source: FOX News, FOX 7 Austin contributed. This story was reported from Los Angeles.