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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Madeline Sherratt

Coast Guard member hailed as ‘American hero’ for saving Texas flood victims

  • US Coast Guard rescuer Scott Ruskan has been lauded as an “American hero” by the Trump administration for saving 165 people during extreme floods in Texas.
  • Ruskan, a 26-year-old helicopter rescue swimmer, undertook his first mission evacuating children from Camp Mystic, where 27 campers and counselors later died.
  • The floods, caused by thunderstorms, led to the Guadalupe River surging, resulting in at least 82 fatalities across the region.
  • Ruskan acted as the sole triage coordinator at the scene, with video showing him being airlifted from a submerged building.
  • President Trump declared the floods a major disaster for Kerr County, while his administration faces scrutiny over cuts to the National Weather Service and his stance on climate change.

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