Heart-Stirring Stories of Bravery of Dad of 3 & Camp Mystic Counselors in Texas Flooding Revealed
The recent severe floods in the Guadalupe River region of Texas sparked several acts of heroism, with teenage camp counselors and a dedicated parent risking their personal safety to shield children and family members from rising floodwaters.
As survivors and emergency personnel started to piece together testimonies of people who risked everything to save others, the tragedy that cost many lives along the Guadalupe River also brought to light incredible tales of bravery. Julian Ryan, a 27-year-old father of three, is one of them.
When flash floods hit their riverfront house early on Friday, July 4, Ryan spent his last moments making sure his fiancé Christinia Wilson, their kids, and his mother were safe, according to KHOU 11. The young father’s altruistic deeds ultimately cost him his life, but his fast thinking and unwavering commitment to protecting his family allowed them to live.
As storm waters along the Guadalupe River started to rise without much notice, the catastrophe quickly came to pass. Within twenty minutes of the first flooding, the family’s house was knee-deep in water. Wilson explained the horrifying rate at which things became worse, forcing the family to frantically call for emergency help while forcing their door shut to keep more water out.
Ryan acted decisively to provide his loved ones with an escape path after realizing the seriousness of their predicament. To give himself a way out, he smashed through a window, but the glass badly hurt his arm, cutting an artery and leaving a wound so deep that it almost resulted in limb amputation.
These brave young Mexican women are heroines in Texas. Silvana Garza Valdez and María Paula Zárate, both 19 years old, rescued 20 girls trapped by the flooding of the Guadalupe River.
— Lakota Man (@LakotaMan1) July 7, 2025
Why isn’t the mainstream media covering this? pic.twitter.com/cm9LuxyM4m
He gave his last remarks to his family at around six in the morning as his situation worsened due to blood loss. “I apologize, but I will not be able to make it,” Ryan stated. I adore you all. His family had to deal with both their survival and their terrible loss when his death was discovered hours later, once the floodwaters had finally subsided.
The way that family members have described Ryan’s personality and last deeds has been consistent. Connie Salas, his sister, stressed that “he died a hero, and that will never go unnoticed,” while Kris Roberts, his best friend, recalled him as “the kindest person” they had ever encountered.
Additionally, a GoFundMe effort has been set up on behalf of Ryan’s mother, Marilyn, by Joseph Rounsley and Jennifer Mercer. Over 1,500 donations have raised over $88,000 as of the time of posting. Ryan’s family characterized his unexpected death as a “unfillable void” in their lives on the campaign website.
Another tale of bravery was being told at Camp Mystic in Kerrville, where young counselors were confronted with the same destructive floodwaters. A ray of hope during the crisis was Louisiana Tech college student Emma Foltz, who was serving as a counselor for her third summer.
When the rising waters approached the camp, Foltz, who had lost her mother only weeks previously, showed up for duty and assisted in evacuating 14 young girls to safety. She has been called “a true light in the storm” for her selfless leadership throughout the catastrophe, and Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry commended her actions.
In addition to individual counselors, two 19-year-old Mexican ladies, Silvana Garza Valdez and María Paula Zárate, demonstrated heroism in summer camps by saving 20 children after flooding at a Christian camp in Kerr County. According to their interview with Foro TV, the young women acted swiftly to save the youngsters in their care as the rain started at around one in the morning and soon got worse.
Under tremendous pressure, they showed incredible foresight by using permanent markers to write each child’s name on their arms, ensuring that no one would be lost during evacuation procedures. As rising water levels rendered cabin constructions untenable, the two spent hours relocating children to higher ground.
They tried to keep the kids awake and calm during the horrific encounter. “We prayed and told them everything was going to be okay,” added Valdez. Their foresight and commitment saved the lives of several young people.
Texas dad got swept away while ‘holding tight to his babies,’ eyewitness says
Stories that exposed the utter horror and devastating human cost of the disaster have surfaced, leaving behind a landscape of unfathomable anguish and ruin from the unrelenting floodwaters that tore
through Texas. Survivors’ accounts are a shocking tribute to the disaster’s wrath, as the dead toll tragically surpasses 100 and rescue crews continue their frantic search for the missing.
Lorena Guillen, who owns the Blue Oak RV Park in the badly affected Kerr County, gave one of the most terrifying stories. In an interview with the New York Post, Guillen recounted seeing a father’s last, frantic expression of affection among the mayhem. .
She described how, despite residents’ fervent attempts to persuade him to release the children so they could be saved, she saw a father clinging to a tree in the rushing stream, his hold fiercely firm on his babies.
“My husband was in the water trying to ask them, ‘Please throw me your baby!’” Guillen remembered, her voice probably laden with the recollection.
“The man was holding tight to his babies, and he just got swept away.” According to KWTX, that father is John Burges from Liberty, Texas. His two sons and his wife, Julia, are still unaccounted for. It has been confirmed that their daughter is safe while attending a local summer camp.
The Fourth of July weekend had been spent at Guillen’s RV park with the Burges family. “The kids were so excited to be here,” Guillen continued, highlighting the harsh contrast between the joy of the holidays and unexpected tragedy.
According to Guillen, the night of the flood was filled with the horrifying sounds of individuals struggling to survive. “We heard people screaming throughout the night,” she recalled. “They were being crushed against the trees when the cottages from the nearby RV park started floating.
“Aid me! “Help me!”—that was the most important thing. The amount of yelling you heard was simply excessive. In the dark, Guillen, unable to sleep, went to the edge of the sea. “My spouse and I sprinted down.
The RVs’ first floor was already washing away by that point. Around ten feet were added to the river at that time. The family nearest to the river, consisting of five members, were stranded. They were drifting away with their RV. It was quite dark and completely black. Her whole RV park was ruined.
The catastrophe affected the neighborhood around Camp Mystic in a significant way. In a devastating statement posted on its website, the girls’ camp stated that at least 27 students and staff had passed away, with 11 remaining unaccounted for at the time of the announcement.
“As our families endure this unfathomable sorrow, our hearts are torn too. The camp said, “We are praying for them constantly,” and that they are working with authorities to find the “missing girls.”
“We kindly request your continued prayers, privacy, and respect for each of our impacted families,” the message said. May the Lord keep enveloping us all in His presence.
Unfortunately, Dick Eastland, the director of Camp Mystic, was one of those killed while valiantly attempting to save others. In a heartfelt Instagram homage to his grandfather’s last deed, his grandson George Eastland was featured on ABC.
“This was the only alternative, saving the girls he loved and cared for so much, if he wasn’t going to die of natural causes,” George wrote. “A father, grandfather, husband, and mentor to thousands of young women, he is no longer with us, but his influence will always be felt in the lives he touched.”
The intense hunt for survivors and the somber process of recovery continue to be the main priorities as the floodwaters gradually recede and the entire, catastrophic extent of the damage throughout southern Texas becomes apparent.
The tales of John Burges, Dick Eastland, the Camp Mystic children and counselors, and the innumerable others who perished are heartbreaking reminders of the lives that were cut short and the families who were left permanently broken.
Although the pictures of devastation are striking, what really conveys the scope of this great tragedy are the sounds of cries in the shadows and the last, frantic embraces of love amid the flood. The state is in mourning, rescue attempts are ongoing, and the victims and everyone left to deal with this terrible loss are in the nation’s thoughts and prayers.
Missing Joyce, age 21 Details of Catherine Badon’s death following a devastating flood in Texas
Stories of two little girls who perished side by side at summer camp and a young woman who was swept away while phoning for assistance have left communities in mourning and families devastated by the July 4, 2025, floods.
The distraught family of Joyce Catherine Badon, a 21-year-old Texas woman who vanished during a flash flood in Hunt over the Fourth of July weekend, has revealed that she has been discovered dead.
A thorough, multi-day search resulted in the recovery and identification of her body. Ty Badon, her father, gave NBC News confirmation of the information. In a tearful post, her mother, Kelleye Badon, also acknowledged the terrible loss. She expressed her sincere gratitude for the assistance they received and stated that they hope to locate her other companions, Aidan Heartfield, Reese Manchaca, and Ella Cahill.
Joyce’s mother had told the horrifying story of what happened early on Saturday morning before she was discovered. Joyce was sleeping at a property on a hill close to the river, she claimed, and had come to Hunt to celebrate the holiday with friends. They were trapped before they could get to the attic when a rapid flash flood raced over the region at around 4 a.m., washing away their automobiles.
Kelleye claims that amid the flooding, the property owner’s son, Aidan, called his father, Thad Heartfield. Soon after, rubble carried Aidan, Joyce, and the other two away. The last person Thad talked to before the line died was Joyce.
In the days after they vanished, Mackenzie Hodulik, Ella’s sister, looked to social media for support as the search went on. She begged for help, claiming that her younger sister, her sister’s boyfriend Aidan, and their two friends were gone and had last spoken to someone at SH-39 at around 4 a.m.
Ty described those heartbreaking last minutes in a CNN interview. As the floodwaters flooded through the cabin, he repeated that Joyce was speaking with Thad on the phone. She said, “They just got washed away,” before the phone suddenly ended, he said.
Aidan was also heard stating, “I’ve got to go,” just before the connection died. I must assist Reese and Ella. All four of the companions were soon carried away by the flood’s mayhem. Joyce, Aidan, Ella, and Reese were later recognized by family members as the missing foursome.
They were last observed trying to get to higher land and avoid the rising waters close 1739 State Highway 39, which is across from Japonica Hills Road. Later, in a devastating update, Mackenzie informed that Ella and Aidan were still missing, while Joyce and Reese had passed away.
In a message of spiritual consolation among the sadness, Kelleye said she believed her daughter was communicating with them from heaven to let them know that everything was good with her.
Joyce is regarded as a bright, kind young lady who had a profound impact on many people’s lives. Even though her life was brutally cut short, her memory and spirit endure in the hearts of her loved ones and the innumerable people who joined her family in praying for her safe return.
Joyce’s tragic death was a part of a much larger tragedy that was sweeping over Texas. Two young Dallas girls were identified as among the dead of the Central Texas floods, leaving two families in sadness and a community in shock.
Lila Bonner, age 9, and Eloise Peck, age 8, were cabinmates and best friends at Camp Mystic, a summer camp in Kerr County, Texas. According to reports, they died together.
Along with a number of other unaccounted campers, Lila and Eloise were two of three Dallas girls that vanished from Camp Mystic. They were the center of attention for the public and rescue operations following the disaster. As of July 6, 2025, Hadley Hanna, the third girl, was still unaccounted for.
On Saturday, July 5, Lila’s family initially reported her passing. In addition to stating that “she lost her life in the tragic flooding,” Eloise’s family requested solitude to grieve for their daughter the following day.
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Kaitlyn Ross, an Alive11 reporter, posted a statement from Eloise’s mother on Facebook. She claimed to have stated, “Eloise was literally friends with everyone,” “She loved spaghetti, but not more than she loved dogs and animals.” She went on:
According to the reporter, Eloise’s family verified her passing. “She passed away alongside her best friend and cabinmate, Lila Bonner, who also lost her life,” stated.
In an effort to raise awareness of the missing youngsters from Camp Mystic, OKCM Search and Rescue posted a message on Facebook on July 4, the day of the floods.
Sharing for our southern neighbors and friends. They included photos of all 18 of the missing girls from Camp Mystic along with the statement, “Our hearts go out to all the families and first responders on the ground in the midst of such a tragedy.”
OKCM Search and Rescue later made an update to their post on Sunday, July 6. “One staff and eleven campers from Camp Mystic are still missing. Please continue to pray. Search efforts are still ongoing.
The horrific experience has had a significant impact on numerous local communities. Many came together online to spread the word about the missing Camp Mystic girls, posting images and messages of hope.
The stories of Joyce, Eloise, and Lila collectively capture the widespread grief brought on by the floods, a catastrophe that has affected people of all ages, from college students to little campers. Families, friends, and entire towns hold onto hope, grieve their losses, and unite in remembrance of those who were taken too soon as rescue efforts continue.
In his remarks on Saturday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott commended the two girls, stating, “There’s no doubt that their courage and love for the girls pushed them to act in the toughest moment.” With the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office reporting at least 27 fatalities and more than 20 females still unaccounted for, the flooding’s wider effects have been devastating for the Texas Hill Country region. In the impacted areas, emergency personnel are still conducting search and rescue missions.
