A young Texas father tragically died on July 4 while trying to save his loved ones from raging floodwaters—nearly severing his arm after smashing through a window in a desperate bid to help them escape.
Julian Ryan, 27, was with his fiancée Christinia Wilson, their two children (ages 6 and 13 months), and his mother when catastrophic flooding from the Guadalupe River tore through their trailer home in Ingram around 4 a.m., the New York Times reported.
“We were asleep when water started pouring in,” Wilson told KHOU. “We had to fight to get the door shut to slow it down. It happened so fast.”
As the floodwaters surged through the trailer, Ryan placed his children on a floating mattress and, realizing they were trapped, punched through the bedroom window to create an escape route. In doing so, he severed an artery and nearly lost his arm.
With help still out of reach, Wilson said she repeatedly dialed 911—but no one arrived in time.
“I’m sorry, I’m not going to make it. I love y’all,” Ryan told his family as he lay bleeding in the water-filled room.
Soon after, the relentless current ripped the trailer in two. The rest of the family was able to escape—but without the man who had just saved their lives.
“He gave everything,” Wilson said, heartbroken. “He was the best father and such a joyful person who helped everyone, no matter the cost.”
A GoFundMe created in Ryan’s memory described him as a “true hero,” noting his selfless final act and the deep loss his family now faces. It has raised more than $25,000.
Ryan’s body was recovered hours later, after waters began to recede in Kerr County.
The flash flood has left a trail of devastation across the Texas Hill Country, claiming at least 43 lives, including 15 children. Among the dead are four young girls from Camp Mystic, a nearby Christian summer camp. As of Sunday, 22 campers remain missing.
