S cott Ruskan had never been on a rescue mission when he boarded a helicopter to find a crowd of about 200 campers stranded by deadly flooding on July 4, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Scott Ruskan from NJ has been hailed an "American hero" for rescuing those in the Texas floods. Here's what to know.

Scott Ruskan, a rescue swimmer for the U.S. Coast Guard, is being hailed as a hero for his response to the devastating flooding at Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas. He is credited with saving 165 lives and opened up about the experience on the July 7 episode of 'Good Morning America.