Teen counselors and rookie rescue swimmer save dozens in Texas camp flood

At least 27 people died at Camp Mystic, but survivors credit coast guard swimmer and young staff with saving lives

A US coast guard rescue swimmer on his first rescue mission as well as teenage counselors who helped shepherd cold and wet young campers to safety have been credited with saving dozens of lives at a flood-ravaged Christian summer camp on the banks of Texas's Guadalupe River.

Their stories of heroism and fortitude - including the counselors' writing young campers' names on their arms and legs with Sharpies so that authorities could identify them if necessary - are among the first to emerge recounting the grim reality of the torrent of water that surged Friday through the all-girls Camp Mystic, where at least 27 campers and counselors are known to have died.