Coast Guard rescue swimmer hailed a hero, credited with saving nearly 170 in Texas floods

A U S Coast Guard rescue swimmer is being hailed a hero for his efforts to save nearly people from the catastrophic floods that swept through central Texas over the weekend Scott Ruskan was one of the first coast guard members on the ground braving the severe weather to get to those in danger Battling selected pretty pretty nasty weather specific of the worst I ve ever experienced in my career so far It took us about four different attempts to try to make our way into Kerrville reported Ruskan At the camp site Ruskan says he was met by nearly frightened children Ruskan says he led about of them at a time to Army helicopters ready to take them to higher ground I was just carrying them to the helicopter because they re stepping on wet rocks and their feet might be cut up and stuff disclosed Ruskan It was pretty traumatic I mean yeah you have a lot of kids they re having presumably the worst day of their life They re missing friends they re missing loved ones they don t know where they are Ruskan says he was also trying to connect with the kids and make sure they were okay So I was really just trying to comfort them and let them know like hey like I don t know where your friends may be right now but my only objective is to get you guys out of here and get you guys to safety Ruskan noted Now Ruksan has a message for the kids I m sorry this happened to you guys but you guys were so brave and tough and it made me like a better rescuer because you guys were acting so bravely Ruskan noted Despite being called a hero Ruskan says he was just doing his job I m just happy I was given the opportunity to help these people out Ruskan disclosed