A heartbreaking story has emerged from Texas, where a young father tragically lost his life trying to save his partner, two children, and mother during catastrophic flooding. Julian Ryan, 27, was trapped inside a mobile home with his family when devastating floods struck Ingram, Texas, in the early hours of July 4th. The floodwaters, surging from the Guadalupe River, overwhelmed the area without warning.
Ryan, along with his fiancée, Christina Wilson, their two children aged six years and 13 months, and his mother, were asleep in the bedroom of the mobile home when they suddenly woke up at 4 a.m., realizing the danger around them.
‘The water started rushing in, and we were fighting to keep the door closed,’ Wilson told local media. Eventually, the force of the water broke through, flooding the room. In a desperate attempt to escape, Ryan punched out a window, severely injuring his hand. According to family reports, he severed an artery and nearly lost his entire hand.
Despite Wilson’s frantic calls to 911, help did not arrive in time. As Ryan began losing consciousness, he uttered his final words: ‘Sorry, I can’t make it. I love you.’
The rising waters swept the trailer away, breaking it apart. While the rest of the family managed to survive, Ryan was later found dead after the waters receded in Kerr County.
‘He was the best father and always had a smile. He would help anyone, no matter the cost,’ said Wilson.
On Sunday (July 6, 2025), U.S. President Donald Trump declared Kerr County a major disaster zone following the torrential rains and deadly floods that caused widespread destruction. The death toll has now risen to 68, with 21 children among the victims, according to the local sheriff.