As recovery operations continue near the Guadalupe River in Texas following catastrophic flooding over the July 4th weekend that killed more than 80 people, including dozens of children, reports of heroic rescue missions to save stranded residents are emerging.
1. El Paso (Texas) FD’s Water Rescue Team saves flood victims from tree
Members of the El Paso (Texas) Fire Department’s Water Rescue Team were deployed to the region as part of Texas Task Force 1. This video captures the moment the team rescued two victims who had climbed a tree to get away from the floodwaters.
2. Coast Guard rescue swimmer hailed an ‘American hero’ after saving 165 people
New Jersey native and Coast Guard rescue swimmer Scott Ruskan is being called an American hero after he pulled 165 people from the raging Texas floodwaters. The incident was Ruskan’s first rescue mission.
United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin, directly saved an astonishing 165 victims in the devastating flooding in central Texas.
— Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) July 6, 2025
This was the first rescue mission of his career and he was the only triage coordinator at the scene.
Scott Ruskin is…
3. Camp counselor heroically rescues 14 campers from flash flooding
Emma Foltz, a senior at Louisiana Tech University, has been a counselor at Camp Mystic, located on the bank of the Guadalupe River, for the last 3 years. According to Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, Foltz “played an instrumental role” in helping 14 of her campers reach safety when the floodwaters began rising.
4. Bystanders capture helicopter rescue of flooding victim
Onlookers watch as a first responder stabilizes a flooding victim while dangling from a rescue helicopter above the raging floodwaters.
5. Man dies saving fiancé, children and mother during catastrophic flooding
Julian Ryan is credited with heroically saving his fiancé, children and mother from the rising floodwaters. When the water began entering their home, Ryan sprang into action, busting a window to allow them to get to safety. However, when breaking the glass, he cut an artery in his arm. He died before help could reach him.
A Go Fund Me page was started to raise funds and assist the family in the coming weeks and weeks: “Julian was a beloved son, father, fiancé, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend to so many, and his sudden departure has left an unfillable void in all our lives.”
6. Man saves bed-ridden father-in-law as floodwaters rise
Just as floodwaters reached the bottom of 77-year-old Sisto Charles’ mattress, mere hours after water began entering the home of his daughter, Rachel Sanchez, his son-in-law appeared in a kayak to take Charles, his daughter and her husband to safety. When asked what would have happened if the son-in-law hadn’t shown up, Charles’ daughter, who has been tending to him on hospice care, said, “He would have drowned.”
7. San Antonio Fire Department rescues man after floodwaters trap him in SUV
With water raging outside his vehicle and rising inside, the driver of an SUV takes in his surroundings as members of the San Antonio Fire Department approach to rescue him.
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