Julian Ryan punched through a window to help his fiancée and children escape rising floodwaters in their Ingram home, severing an artery in his arm that would prove fatal as emergency responders struggled to reach the area devastated by the Guadalupe River’s historic surge.
The 27-year-old father of three spent his final moments apologizing to his family for not being able to survive his injuries. “By 6 a.m., he looked at me and the kids and my mother-in-law and said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m not going to make it. I love y’all,'” his fiancée, Christinia Wilson, told local media through tears.
Ryan’s heroic sacrifice came as catastrophic flooding swept through central Texas early Friday morning, killing at least 51 people across multiple counties. The death toll includes 15 children, with 27 girls from Camp Mystic still unaccounted for as rescue teams continue desperate search efforts along the swollen Guadalupe River.
The flooding began when more than 12 inches of rain fell across the Texas Hill Country in just hours, causing the Guadalupe River to rise 26 feet in 45 minutes. The surge reached the second-highest level on record, surpassing even the devastating 1987 floods that killed 10 teenagers.
“We had no reason to believe that this was gonna be anything like what’s happened here,” Kerr County Judge Rob Kelly said, his own property narrowly escaping damage. “The area does not have a warning system.”
Wilson described how floodwaters rose to knee-level in their home within 20 minutes. As the family called 911 repeatedly without success, Ryan took action to save his loved ones. He punched out a window to create an escape route for Wilson, their three children, and his mother.
The glass severely lacerated Ryan’s arm, nearly severing it completely and cutting an artery. Emergency crews could not reach the family for hours due to the dangerous conditions, and Ryan bled to death before help arrived. His body remained outside for seven hours before recovery teams could safely retrieve it.
He died a hero, and that will never go unnoticed,” said Ryan’s sister, Connie Salas, who lived next door and also survived the flooding.
The tragedy at Camp Mystic has captured national attention as frantic parents await word about their daughters. The 99-year-old Christian summer camp was hosting approximately 750 girls when floodwaters overwhelmed the facility along the Guadalupe River near Hunt.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott called the situation an “extraordinary catastrophe” and signed disaster declarations for 15 counties. They will continue in the darkness of night, they will be taking place when the sun rises in the morning. They will be non-stop,” Abbott said of rescue efforts.
Among the confirmed victims are 8-year-old Sarah Marsh of Mountain Brook, Alabama, and 9-year-old Lila Bonner of Dallas, both Camp Mystic attendees. The camp’s co-director, Dick Eastland, also died while attempting to save campers. Jane Ragsdale, director of the nearby Heart O’ the Hills camp, was another casualty of the floods.
Rescue operations have been massive in scope, with more than 850 people evacuated, including 167 by helicopter. Major General Thomas M. Suelzer reported that some survivors were found clinging to trees after being swept miles downstream.
One woman survived being carried 15 miles by the raging waters before grabbing onto a tree and holding on for hours until rescued. “It’s an absolute miracle,” local officials said.
The flooding caught the region off guard despite weather warnings. “The National Weather Service did not predict the amount of rain that we saw,” officials acknowledged. The original estimate called for up to 8 inches of rain, but some areas received more than 12 inches within hours.
Elinor Lester, a 13-year-old Camp Mystic camper who was evacuated by helicopter, described terrifying moments as counselors tied ropes for girls to hold while crossing a bridge with floodwaters swirling around their legs. “The camp was completely destroyed,” she said. “It was really scary.”
The financial and emotional toll continues to mount. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed President Trump has indicated he will honor Abbott’s disaster declaration, mobilizing federal resources. The U.S. Coast Guard reported saving or assisting in saving 223 lives.
Wilson and other survivors are now calling for improved warning systems, particularly flood sirens that could have alerted residents to evacuate. “Everybody would’ve been worried — what’s that noise?” Wilson said. “We would have left. We would have gone anywhere else. We had so many places that were safe.”
As search efforts continue, Abbott declared Sunday a day of prayer for Texas. “I urge every Texan to join me in prayer this Sunday – for the lives lost, for those still missing, for the recovery of our communities, and for the safety of those on the front lines,” the governor said.
The region known as “flash flood alley” remains under flood watches as additional rain threatens to swell receding streams. Officials warned residents to avoid the area unless seeking higher ground, emphasizing that recovery efforts will continue around the clock until all missing persons are found.
Ryan’s family has established a GoFundMe campaign to help with expenses as they mourn the loss of a man remembered for his “infectious laugh and unwavering kindness.” His best friend, Kris Roberts, said simply: “He’s the kindest person I’ve ever met in my life, and I’ll forever love him no matter what.”
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