Unsung heroes of 2025: First responders and everyday Americans who saved lives across US

In a twelvemonth marked by catastrophe and devastation, it was quiescent bravery, from Coast Guard rescue swimmers to section firefighters, exigency crews and mundane citizens, that turned moments of situation into stories of survival.

Camp Mystic manager dies trying to prevention campers during Texas flooding

On July 4, 2025, catastrophic flash flooding on the Guadalupe River successful Kerr County, Texas, devastated Camp Mystic, a Christian girls’ summertime campy that had been operating for astir a century.

Dick Eastland, the longtime manager and co-owner of Camp Mystic, died portion trying to prevention campers arsenic fast-rising floodwaters tore done the campgrounds earlier dawn. 

Eastland, who had led the campy since the 1970s, was wide remembered by erstwhile campers and unit arsenic a begetter fig and selfless person whose last moments reflected a beingness spent protecting children successful his care.

CAMP MYSTIC DIRECTOR DIES WHILE TRYING TO SAVE KIDS DURING TEXAS FLOODING

Debris and harm successful Camp Mystic compartment divided with a photograph of Dick Eastland (Reuters/Sergio Flores; LeslieEastland/Facebook)

"It doesn’t astonishment maine astatine each that his past enactment of kindness and sacrifice was moving to prevention the lives of campers," said Paige Sumner, a erstwhile camper and person of Eastland.

At the clip of the flooding, much than 700 campers and counselors were astatine Camp Mystic. Twenty-seven girls and counselors were killed erstwhile the Guadalupe River surged done a low-lying country of the camp, rising from 14 feet to 29.5 feet successful conscionable 60 minutes. The campy did not afloat evacuate earlier the floodwaters hit.

The destructive flooding yet killed astatine slightest 136 radical crossed Central Texas, triggering wide scrutiny of exigency preparedness and informing systems. Community leaders and lawmakers paid tribute to Eastland’s bravery, calling his last actions emblematic of the quiescent heroism displayed during 1 of the deadliest earthy disasters of the year.

Coast Guard swimmer saves 165 successful Texas floods

A United States Coast Guard rescue swimmer from New Jersey was hailed arsenic a leader for his relation successful lifesaving efforts during the deadly flash floods successful Central Texas.

Petty Officer 3rd Class Scott Ruskan, 26, was credited with redeeming 165 radical arsenic the lone triage coordinator connected the crushed amid the chaotic flood effect adjacent Camp Mystic and surrounding areas. 

NEW JERSEY COAST GUARD SWIMMER RESCUES NEARLY 200 PEOPLE IN DEADLY TEXAS FLASH FLOODS

Destroyed compartment astatine Camp Mystic aft flooding deed Texas. (Eli Hartman/AP Photo, File)

"United States Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer and Petty Officer Scott Ruskin [sic], straight saved an astonishing 165 victims successful the devastating flooding successful cardinal Texas. This was the archetypal rescue ngo of his vocation and helium was the lone triage coordinator astatine the scene. Scott Ruskin is an American hero. His selfless courageousness embodies the tone and ngo of the @USCG," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posted connected X.

Ruskan described spotting a ample assemblage of "about 200 kids astatine a campsite" and focusing rescue efforts determination to get arsenic galore radical to information arsenic possible.

Former Georgia serviceman dies redeeming 5 from rip current

A decorated erstwhile constabulary serviceman and erstwhile Baltimore Orioles insignificant league subordinate died portion rescuing swimmers caught successful a rip existent disconnected the seashore of South Carolina successful July, according to authorities and household members.

Chase Childers, 38, entered the h2o adjacent Pawleys Island connected July 13, 2025, aft radical were reported successful distress. While others who attempted to assistance were capable to instrumentality to shore, Childers was caught successful the rip existent and did not marque it back, constabulary said.

FORMER GEORGIA POLICE OFFICER DEAD AFTER SAVING 5 IN BEACH RIP CURRENT

Former constabulary serviceman Chase Childers died successful a rip existent successful Pawleys Island, SC aft attempting to rescue others. (GoFundMe)

"We would similar to supply further accusation connected Sunday’s incident," the Pawleys Island Police Department said successful a statement. "The victim, Chase Childers, and different idiosyncratic entered the h2o to assistance individuals who were successful distress. Sadly, Mr. Childers was caught successful the rip current, arsenic well. He died trying to prevention others."

Emergency responders recovered Childers’ assemblage astir 90 minutes aft the archetypal distress call, with assistance from Midway Fire Rescue and the U.S. Coast Guard. Officials praised archetypal responders for their efforts and offered condolences to the family.

According to a GoFundMe created successful Childers’ memory, helium was a devoted hubby and begetter who displayed "extraordinary courageousness and selflessness" portion redeeming a household of five, putting their lives supra his own. During his instrumentality enforcement vocation successful Cobb County, Georgia, Childers received a beingness accomplishment grant for redeeming respective lives, the leafage said.

Hero ‘band dads’ instrumentality down aged progressive shooter

On Feb. 1, 2025, an progressive shooter incidental erupted during a set contention astatine Pasadena Memorial High School successful Texas, erstwhile an 83-year-old man, identified arsenic Dennis Brandl, opened occurrence wrong the schoolhouse auditorium.

One person, a 26-year-old percussion method consultant, was changeable successful the enarthrosis and transported to a Houston-area hospital, wherever helium remained conscious and was expected to recover.

Before constabulary could afloat respond, a radical of 4 fathers known arsenic the "band dads" — each of whom had subject oregon instrumentality enforcement backgrounds — sprang into action. The men rushed toward the gunfire, tackled the fishy and disarmed him, preventing further injuries astatine the crowded event.

HERO 'BAND DADS' TAKE DOWN ELDERLY ACTIVE SHOOTER AT TEXAS HIGH SCHOOL

A radical of 4 tactically-trained set dads jumped into enactment and apprehended an progressive shooter astatine a set contention astatine Pasadena Memorial High school. (FOX 26 Houston)

"As soon arsenic everyone was screaming and yelling, gunshots fired, Joe and myself looked astatine each different and ran consecutive to the door," Army seasoned Adam Curow told FOX 26. "By the clip we got inside, Polo and Abram were close down america arsenic a band-dad team."

Pasadena ISD constabulary officers, on with civilians and assemblage members, helped restrain Brandl until instrumentality enforcement secured the scene. Authorities aboriginal said Brandl told constabulary helium believed helium was being chased and feared that helium and his woman would beryllium killed.

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

"When information struck, HPD Sergeant Joe Sanchez didn’t hesitate," the section wrote successful a connection connected X. "While attending a set contention astatine a Pasadena school, Sgt. Sanchez was among those who rapidly stepped up to support lives. This month, helium marks 33 years with HPD. We’re grateful for his service."

Father jumps into water to prevention girl aft autumn from Disney cruise

A melodramatic water rescue unfolded aboard a Disney Dream cruise vessel aft a 5-year-old miss fell overboard portion the vas was sailing successful planetary waters betwixt the Bahamas and Port Everglades, Florida, authorities said.

The incidental occurred astir 11:30 a.m. connected June 29, 2025, erstwhile the kid mislaid her equilibrium portion sitting connected a railing adjacent a porthole connected Deck 4 and fell backward into the ocean, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office. After the girl’s parent alerted her husband, the child’s 37-year-old begetter jumped into the h2o to prevention her.

GIRL ON DISNEY CRUISE FELL THROUGH PORTHOLE AS DAD JUMPED TO SAVE HER IN 20-MINUTE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL: POLICE

A begetter and his girl were rescued aft falling overboard from the Disney Dream cruise ship, June 29, 2025. (Janice Martin-Asuque)

Investigators said the begetter located his girl and treaded h2o with her until rescue crews arrived, arsenic the ship’s "man overboard" alert sounded and unit members launched an exigency response. The full clip from the child’s autumn to the rescue was astir 20 minutes, authorities said.

Security video corroborated the family’s account, and officials credited the ship’s unit with executing a swift rescue owed to their man-overboard training. 

"The unit aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued 2 guests from the water," a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson told Fox News Digital, praising the crew’s punctual actions.

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The begetter and girl were evaluated by the ship’s aesculapian unit and aboriginal transported to a infirmary aft the vessel docked. Authorities said the family, who unrecorded retired of state, requested privacy, calling the result a blessing successful what could person 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, homicides and migrant crime. Send communicative tips to [email protected].