Multiple acts of heroism emerged from the devastating Texas flooding that recently struck the Guadalupe River region, with young camp counselors and a devoted father sacrificing their own safety to protect children and family members from rising floodwaters.
The tragedy that claimed multiple lives along the Guadalupe River also revealed extraordinary stories of courage, as emergency responders and survivors began piecing together accounts of individuals who risked everything to save others. One of them is a 27-year-old father of three, Julian Ryan.
According to KHOU 11, Ryan’s final moments were spent ensuring the safety of his fiancé Christinia Wilson, their children, and his mother when flash flooding struck their riverside home in the early hours of Friday, July 4. The young father’s selfless actions ultimately cost him his life, but his family survived thanks to his quick thinking and determination to protect them at all costs.
The tragedy unfolded rapidly as storm waters along the Guadalupe River began rising with little warning. Within just 20 minutes of the initial flooding, water had reached knee-deep levels inside the family’s home. Wilson described the terrifying speed at which the situation deteriorated, pushing the family to force their door shut to prevent more water from entering while desperately calling for emergency assistance.
Recognizing the gravity of their situation, Ryan took decisive action to create an escape route for his loved ones. He punched through a window to provide an exit path, but the glass severely injured his arm, severing an artery and causing a wound so deep it nearly amputated his limb.
As his condition deteriorated from blood loss, he delivered his final words to his family at around 6 a.m. Ryan said, “I’m sorry, I’m not going to make it. I love y’all.” His body was found hours later when the floodwaters had finally gone down, leaving his family to process both their survival and their devastating loss.
Family members have been unified in their description of Ryan’s character and final actions. His sister Connie Salas emphasized that “he died a hero, and that will never go unnoticed,” while his best friend Kris Roberts remembered him as “the kindest person” they had ever met.
A GoFundMe campaign organized by Joseph Rounsley and Jennifer Mercer on behalf of Ryan’s mother, Marilyn, has also been established. As of the time of publication, about $88,000 has been raised from over 1,500 donations. On the fundraiser page, Ryan’s family described his sudden passing as an “unfillable void” in their lives.
Meanwhile, at Camp Mystic in Kerrville, another story of heroism was unfolding as young counselors faced the same devastating floodwaters. Emma Foltz, a Louisiana Tech college student working her third summer as a counselor, emerged as a beacon of hope during the crisis.
Despite having recently lost her mother just weeks earlier, Foltz showed up for her responsibilities and helped evacuate 14 young girls to safety when the camp was threatened by the rising waters. Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry praised her actions, and she has been described as “a true light in the storm” for her selfless leadership during the emergency.
The heroism at summer camps extended beyond individual counselors to include two 19-year-old Mexican women, Silvana Garza Valdez and María Paula Zárate, who saved 20 children during the flooding at a Christian camp in Kerr County. According to their interview with Foro TV, when the rain began around 1 a.m. and quickly intensified, the young women took decisive action to protect the children under their care.
They wrote the names of each child on their arms with permanent markers to ensure no one would be lost during evacuation procedures, demonstrating remarkable foresight under extreme pressure. The duo spent hours moving children to higher ground as cabin structures became uninhabitable due to rising water levels.
Throughout the terrifying ordeal, they worked to keep the children calm and awake. “We prayed and told them everything was going to be okay,” Valdez said. Their quick thinking and dedication helped to save multiple young lives.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott praised the two girls in his statement on Saturday, saying, “There’s no doubt that their courage and love for the girls pushed them to act in the toughest moment.” The broader impact of the flooding has been devastating for the Texas Hill Country region, with the Kerr County Sheriff’s Office confirming at least 27 fatalities and more than 20 girls still missing. Emergency responders continue search and rescue operations in the affected areas.
