Scott Ruskan, a 26-year-old rescue swimmer with the U.S. Coast Guard, is being applauded as an "American hero" after his first mission saw him save 165 people affected by the flash floods in Texas. Newsweek reached out to Ruskan via social media message for comment outside of regular working hours.

Scott Ruskan’s actions have garnered praise from many amid the catastrophic flooding in Texas. The Coast Guard rescue swimmer is being hailed as a hero for reportedly saving 165 lives in his first mission, according to the New York Post. Ruskan spoke to the outlet afterwards and asserted:

Scott Ruskan, a US Coast Guard rescue swimmer, is being hailed as an ‘American Hero’ after he saved as many as 165 children from catastrophic flooding at Camp Mystic in Texas. The 26-year-old New Jersey native,