AUSTIN, TEXAS – A catastrophic flash flooding event that tore through the Texas Hill Country over the Fourth of July holiday has left a trail of devastation, with the death toll tragically rising to over 50 people. As rescue crews continue to scour the debris-laden Guadalupe River for dozens of missing individuals, a story of profound courage has emerged: a young father who sacrificed his own life to ensure his family escaped the raging waters.
The disaster unfolded in the pre-dawn hours of Friday, July 4th, when an intense and sudden downpour dumped more than 10 inches of rain in a matter of hours. The deluge caused the Guadalupe River to surge to historic levels, rising an estimated 26 feet in just 45 minutes in some areas. The violent wall of water ripped homes from their foundations, tossed vehicles like toys, and washed away roads, catching residents and holiday campers completely by surprise.
Kerr County has been the hardest-hit area, reporting at least 43 fatalities. The overall death toll, which includes victims from several surrounding counties, tragically includes at least 15 children.
A frantic search and rescue operation is still underway, with a major focus on locating 27 girls who remain unaccounted for after their summer camp, Camp Mystic, was inundated. Governor Greg Abbott has declared a state of disaster for 15 counties and mobilized state resources, including the Texas National Guard and specialized search and rescue teams. “We will not stop until every last person is accounted for,” Abbott vowed.
Amid the widespread heartbreak, the story of Julian Ryan, 27, of Ingram, has become a symbol of heroism. As floodwaters burst into their mobile home just yards from the Guadalupe River, Ryan took decisive action to save his fiancée, Christina Wilson, their children, and his mother.
According to his family, Ryan smashed a window with his bare hands to create an escape route for his loved ones to get to the roof. In the process, he suffered a severe laceration to his arm that severed an artery. With emergency services overwhelmed and unable to reach them, he bled to death.
His fiancée recounted his heartbreaking final words: “He looked at me, the kids, and his mother and said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m not going to make it. I love y’all.'”
Ryan’s body was recovered later that morning after the floodwaters had receded. His family and community are now honoring him as a “true hero” who made the ultimate sacrifice.
“He died a hero,” his sister, Connie Salas, told reporters. “That will never go unnoticed.”
The disaster has raised questions about the adequacy of warning systems in the flood-prone region, which was crowded with visitors for the holiday weekend. For now, however, the focus remains on the massive recovery effort and supporting the families shattered by one of the deadliest floods in Texas history.
