<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It was Petty Officer Scott Ruskan's first mission as a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 26-year-old was new to the Coast Guard.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He had left a previous career as an accountant before enlisting, and had graduated from rescue swimming school around six months ago when his team got the call from Task Force 1, a local search-and-rescue team in Texas, early Friday morning.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/1080-bait-poison-pet-dog-owner-ban-campaign/39b442e2-e92c-40c9-add2-7911249d6a0c" target="_blank"><strong><span>Yvette's beloved pet dog was almost killed by poison found all over Australia</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They were needed urgently in central Texas where torrential flooding had struck over the July Fourth weekend. Dozens of people were dead, and more were missing.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The team deployed around 7am Friday from Corpus Christi, about 200 miles south of where the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas, had risen from about 3 feet to nearly 30 feet.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Floodwaters in the area had swept through and battered several youth camps on the river banks — including Camp Mystic, the summer camp where they were headed.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/world/texas-flooding-us-coast-guard-rescue-swimmer-hailed-as-a-hero-after-saving-165-kids-from-floods/dd822406-6ed8-4f34-8795-141d1741ed9c" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Around 200 campers at the all-girls Christian camp needed to be rescued, Ruskan said. With bridges and roadways overcome by floodwaters and the water too high for boat rescues, the only option was to airlift the girls.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><h2><strong><span>A call for rescue</span></strong></h2></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Counsellors and staff at Camp Mystic had been scrambling to rescue campers, pushing some through cabin windows and putting children on mattresses to help float on the rising water.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>More than a month's worth of rain dumped on the area, and floodwaters overtook the site.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hundreds of local, state and national first responders had surged to the Kerrville area to help find and rescue survivors.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/the-hidden-physical-powers-that-help-women-outlive-men/fc7764ba-022d-4c00-ab7a-9d51de1c47dc" target="_blank"><strong><span>The hidden physical powers that help women outlive men</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The ongoing urgent response includes Black Hawk helicopters deployed by the Texas National Guard and Air National Guard.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>What should have been a one-hour flight into the landing zone near the camp took about six or seven hours, Ruskan told CNN.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The crew battled "some pretty, pretty nasty weather," he told CNN, some of the worst he had experienced in his career.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It took the team four attempts and the help of the Air National Guard for the aircraft to make its way through the brutal storm, he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>From above, he could see firsthand the devastating flood and its effects on the landscape. "I've never seen anything this tragic in my life," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>On the ground, Ruskan realised he was the only first responder around and was met with "about 200 kids, mostly all scared, terrified, cold, having probably the worst day of their life."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But after arriving at Camp Mystic, Ruskan said, the crew was needed at another, more dangerous location.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/camp-mystic-what-survivors-faced-in-terrifying-texas-floods/bcd62fe7-67cf-4d3e-a367-b254289460af" target="_blank"><strong><span>What survivors – and those still missing – faced in terrifying Texas floods</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The aircraft could fit more people at the next site without him onboard, and Ruskan could help where he was.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The crew decided leaving him behind at Camp Mystic as a triage coordinator at the "hectic" site was the best option.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They were ultimately able to airlift 15 children at the other location without Ruskan on the aircraft.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At the camp, Ruskan comforted the distressed children gathered into an area above the flood zone, and heard stories from camp counsellors who rushed to push campers out the door before cabins flooded.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Some kids had cuts on their feet because they were barefoot. They didn't have time to put on shoes before they scrambled to safety.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>For around three hours, Ruskan said, he was the only rescuer on site and had no communication due to poor radio reception and no cell service.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But any fear he had, he pushed aside to focus on his young charges.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They're having probably the worst day of their life. They're missing friends. They're missing loved ones," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"They don't know where they are. Some of them may be unaccounted for. Some of them may be somewhere else."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/man-allegedly-drove-at-police-traffic-stop-morayfield-queensland/19b03c84-1248-4d46-8f9d-91eeeefc4466" target="_blank"><strong><span>Mercedes driver allegedly rams police car in Queensland</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He did his best to reassure the shell-shocked campers, promising he would get them out and that other rescuers were looking for their missing friends.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Comfort "could be something as simple as holding their hand," he added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Texas Air National Guard aircraft landed at the camp's archery field and soccer field, and Ruskan led the children, about 10 to 15 at a time, to the aircraft.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He focused on getting the youngest children out first.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ruskan helped rescue approximately 165 campers with him, carrying some to the helicopter to help them avoid slipping on wet rocks or cutting their feet even more.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Despite rescuers' best efforts, 27 of the girls' Camp Mystic friends and counsellors died in the catastrophic floods, and 10 campers and one counsellor are still unaccounted for.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The camp's longtime director Dick Eastman also died, trying to rescue campers.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>At least 100 people have died from the devastating floods.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/reserve-bank-of-australia-july-interest-rate-decision/6082c3d9-4eb8-4b91-98a4-6c0b6c574f69" target="_blank"><strong><span>RBA expected to hand down interest rate cut this afternoon</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Ruskan says the magnitude of his effort has just started to sink in.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The rescue swimmer has been hailed as an "American hero" by the Department of Homeland Security.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The agency lauded the "extraordinary bravery and selfless service of Ruskan and his fellow first responders."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But he said the other counsellors who helped rescue efforts and the tough kids were also heroes.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Seeing how bravely they acted, he said, "it made me a better rescuer."</span></div></div>