Unsung heroes of 2025: Stories of courage, sacrifice and survival

In a year marked by tragedy and devastation, it was quiet courage, from Coast Guard swimmers to local firefighters, emergency workers and everyday citizens, that turned difficult times into stories of survival.

Camp Mystic director dies trying to save campers during Texas floods

On July 4, 2025, catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas, destroyed Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summer camp that had been in operation for nearly 100 years.

Dick Eastland, the longtime director and co-owner of Camp Mystic, died trying to save campers as floodwaters quickly rose through the grounds before dawn.

Eastland, who had led the camp since the 1970s, was fondly remembered by former camp workers and staff as a selfless father and leader whose final moments reflected a lifetime spent protecting the children in his care.

CAMP MYSTIC DIRECTOR DIES TRYING TO SAVE CHILDREN DURING TEXAS FLOOD

“It doesn’t surprise me at all that his last act of kindness and sacrifice was working to save the lives of the campers,” said Paige Sumner, a former camper and friend from Eastland.

At the time of the flood, more than 700 campers and counselors were at Camp Mystic. 27 girls and counselors died when the Guadalupe River overflowed the lower part of the camp, from 14 to 29.5 meters in just 60 minutes. The camp was not fully evacuated before the floods hit.

The devastating flood ended up killing at least 136 people across Central Texas, prompting widespread scrutiny of emergency preparedness and warning systems. Community leaders and lawmakers paid tribute to Eastland’s bravery, calling his final actions a sign of quiet bravery displayed amid the worst natural disasters of the year.

Coast Guard swimmer saves 165 in Texas floods

A United States Coast Guard swimmer from New Jersey has been hailed as a hero for his role in lifesaving efforts during deadly flooding in Central Texas.

Petty Officer Class 3 Scott Ruskan, 26, is said to have saved 165 people as the only triage coordinator on the ground during the flooding that hit Camp Mystic and the surrounding area.

NEW JERSEY COAST GUARD RELEASES NEARLY 200 PEOPLE IN DEADLY TEXAS FLASH

A destroyed cabin at Camp Mystic after the Texas floods. (Photo by Eli Hartman/AP, File)

“United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin [sic]directly saved a staggering 165 victims from the devastating floods in central Texas. This was the first rescue operation of his career and he was the only coordinator of the trio at the scene. Scott Ruskin is an American hero. His bravery embodies the spirit and mission of the @USCG,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem wrote on X.

Ruskan described seeing a large crowd of “about 200 children at the campsite” and focused rescue efforts there to get as many people to safety as possible.

Former Georgia officer dies saving 5 in rip current

A decorated former police officer and former minor league player for the Baltimore Orioles died while rescuing swimmers who were swept away in the ocean off a South Carolina beach in July, according to authorities and family members.

Chase Childers, 38, went into the water near Pawleys Island on July 13, 2025, after reports of people in distress. Although others who tried to help were able to return to shore, the Childers were caught in the rip current and could not return, police said.

FORMER GEORGIA POLICE OFFICER DIES AFTER 5TH IN BEACH RIP CURRENT

Former police officer Chase Childers died in Pawleys Island, SC after trying to rescue others. (GoFundMe)

“We would like to provide additional information regarding Sunday’s incident,” the Pawleys Island Police Department said in a statement. “The victim, Chase Childers, and another person went into the water to help people who were in distress. Sadly, Mr. Childers was also caught in the water. He died trying to save others.”

Paramedics found the children’s bodies about 90 minutes after the first distress call, with the help of Midway Fire Rescue and the US Coast Guard. Officials commended first responders for their efforts and offered their condolences to the family.

According to a GoFundMe set up in Children’s memory, he was a devoted husband and father who showed “extraordinary courage and selflessness” while saving a family of five, putting their lives above his own. While working in law enforcement in Cobb County, Georgia, Childers received a lifetime achievement award for saving many lives, the page said.

The hero ‘team dads’ takes down an elderly active shooter

On February 1, 2025, an ongoing shooting occurred during a team competition at Pasadena Memorial High School in Texas, when an 83-year-old man, identified as Dennis Brandl, opened fire inside the school’s auditorium.

One person, a 26-year-old percussionist, was shot in the shoulder and taken to a Houston hospital, where he remained unconscious and was expected to recover.

Before the police could fully respond, a group of four fathers known as “band dads” – all of whom had military or law enforcement backgrounds – went into action. The men rushed to the scene of the gunshots, confronted the suspect and disarmed him, preventing further accidents at this crowded event.

‘ABANDLA BANDLA’ HERO TAKES DOWN TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS

A group of four professionally trained band dads jumped into action and caught a busy shooter at Pasadena Memorial High School’s band competition. (FOX 26 Houston)

“As soon as everyone was screaming and yelling, the gunshots went off, Joe and I looked at each other and ran to the door,” Army veteran Adam Curow told FOX 26. “By the time we got inside, Polo and Abram were right behind us like a bunch of dads.”

Pasadena ISD police, along with residents and community members, helped restrain Brandl until law enforcement secured the scene. Authorities later said Brandl told police he believed he was being chased and feared he and his wife would be killed.

The Houston Police Department commended the men involved, including HPD Sgt. Joe Sanchez, who attended the event, for their decisive actions.

“When danger struck, HPD Sergeant Joe Sanchez did not hesitate,” the department wrote in a statement about X. “While attending a team competition at a Pasadena school, Sgt. Sanchez was among those who stepped up to protect lives. This month, he marks 33 years with HPD. Thank you for his service.”

A father jumps into the ocean to save his daughter after she falls on a Disney ride

There was a dramatic rescue aboard the Disney Dream cruise ship after a 5-year-old girl fell overboard while the ship was traveling in international waters between the Bahamas and Port Everglades, Florida, authorities said.

The incident occurred around 11:30 a.m. on June 29, 2025, when the child lost his balance while sitting on the railing near the hatch on Deck 4 and fell backwards into the ocean, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office. After the child’s mother informed her husband, the child’s father, 37, jumped into the water to save her.

GIRL ON DISNEY CRUISE FALLS THROUGH PORTHOLE AS FATHER RUNS TO SAVE HER IN 20-MINUTE SURVIVAL: POLICE.

A father and his daughter were rescued after falling overboard on the Disney Dream cruise ship, June 29, 2025. (Janice Martin-Asuque)

The investigators said that the father found his daughter and tread water with her until the rescuers arrived, as the notification that “a man is on top of the ship” was heard and the crew rushed for emergency help. The total time from the child’s fall to being rescued was about 20 minutes, authorities said.

Security video corroborated the family’s account, and officials credited the ship’s crew for the quick rescue because of their training in the water.

“Employees aboard the Disney Dream quickly rescued two guests from the water,” a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson told Fox News Digital, praising the quick action of the crew.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS PROGRAM

The father and daughter were examined by the ship’s medical staff and later taken to hospital after the ship docked. Authorities say the family, who live outside the state, have asked for privacy, calling the outcome a blessing in what could have been a tragic incident.

Fox News Digital’s Stephen Sorace, Rachel Wolf, Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Christina Shaw and Michael Dorgan contributed to this report.

Stepheny Price covers crime, including missing persons, homicide and immigration crime. Send news tips to stepheny.price@fox.com.