U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan will receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the ESPY Awards for his heroic actions during the Hill Country floods. Ruskan, a petty officer stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas, helped evacuate around 180 campers and counselors from Camp Mystic.

The Rescue Effort

Ruskan and his crew arrived at the scene with limited information and faced dangerous weather conditions while flying through valleys and over flood debris. Despite the challenges, Ruskan was the first rescuer on the ground at Camp Mystic and helped evacuate the campers and counselors over the course of four hours.

Ruskan credited the entire crew for their bravery and selflessness during the rescue effort. He also praised the campers for their resilience and courage in the face of uncertainty and fear. Ruskan said he was able to reunite with the family of one of the girls he rescued, Milly Cate McClymond, when he was honored at the State of the Union.

A Calling to Serve

Ruskan left a previous career in accounting to join the Coast Guard, feeling a sense of calling to serve. He said the recognition has not changed the day-to-day nature of his work and that the memory of the flooding remains with him.

Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.