Texas dad got swept away while ‘holding tight to his babies,’ eyewitness says

The harrowing images of Texas submerged under violent flash floods have left a deep scar across the nation. As rescue crews continue their desperate efforts to locate survivors, each new story emerging from the catastrophe underscores the human toll — and the heartbreaking final moments of those who fought to protect their loved ones.

Among the most devastating accounts is that of a father, identified as John Burges of Liberty, Texas, who was swept away by floodwaters while clinging to a tree and refusing to let go of his two young sons. Witnesses say he was begging for help, yet refused to release the grip on his children. Moments later, all three vanished into the torrent.

“My husband was in the water trying to ask them, ‘Please throw me your baby!’” said Lorena Guillen, who owns the Blue Oak RV Park in Kerr County. “The man was holding tight to his babies, and he just got swept away.”

John’s wife, Julia, and their sons remain missing. The couple’s daughter, who was attending a nearby summer camp, survived. The family had been staying at the RV park over the Fourth of July weekend.

The trgedy has unfolded with merciless speed. More than 100 lives have been lost in this unprecedented flooding, and with dozens still missing, that toll is expected to rise. One of the worst-hit areas, Kerr County, has become a focal point of rescue operations and national mourning.

Camp Mystic, a beloved girls’ summer camp nestled along the Guadalupe River, confirmed that at least 27 children and staff members have died. Eleven remain unaccounted for.

“Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy,” Camp Mystic wrote in a statement. “We ask for your continued prayers, respect, and privacy for each of our families affected.”

Among the victims was camp director Richard “Dick” Eastland, who died while reportedly trying to guide children to safety. His grandson, George Eastland, honored his sacrifice on Instagram, saying,\

“If he wasn’t going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way — saving the girls that he so loved and cared for.”

The Blue Oak RV Park, where John Burges and his family had stayed, has been completely destroyed. Guillen described the night of the flood as nothing short of apocalyptic. The screams of people trapped in cabins and trailers, crashing debris, and pleas for help filled the air for hours.

“We heard people screaming throughout the night. ‘Help me! Help me!’ — that was the main thing. The cabins from the RV park next door came floating, and they were getting smashed against the trees. It was just too much,” Guillen said.

She and her husband had tried to help as the water surged up by nearly 10 feet. In the dark, they ran toward the river, witnessing the first rows of RVs being pulled into the current. One family of five, closest to the water, could do nothing as their trailer was swept away.

As search-and-rescue teams press on through dangerous terrain and rising waters, stories like John Burges’ are a painful reminder of the courage, desperation, and love displayed in those final seconds. These are not just numbers — they are parents, children, grandparents, and neighbors whose lives were upended in an instant.

This tragedy has sparked an outpouring of support from across the country. Emergency declarations have been signed, volunteer teams have flooded in, and countless community members — like Lorena and her husband — have become first responders in their own right.

In the face of such grief, one truth stands clear: we will never forget those who lost their lives. And for those still waiting on word about missing loved ones, hope remains — carried by the strength of a community that refuses to let go.

Our hearts are with the families in Kerr County and across Texas. May those lost be remembered with dignity, and may those who remain be surrounded by compassion, strength, and healing.