Two young brothers who survived the deadly flash floods in Kerr County, Texas, are speaking out about the terrifying moment they had to swim to safety as water filled their cabin in the middle of the night.
Piers and Ruffin Boyett were attending Camp La Junta in Hunt, Texas, when torrential rains caused the nearby Guadalupe River to overflow, turning their camp into a disaster zone.
Speaking to ABC affiliate KSAT, the brothers described how their cabin rapidly flooded as lightning lit up the skies and chaos erupted. “I couldn’t sleep because of the lightning,” Ruffin recalled. “People were screaming that there was a flood,” added Piers.
Ruffin, who woke around 4 a.m. Friday, was the first to realize the danger. He and another camper quickly alerted their counselor, who then woke the rest of the cabin.
Moments later, the boys faced a terrifying decision. “The flood kept rising,” said Piers. “The water reached the top bunks. We had no choice—we had to swim out.”
The brothers, along with other campers, made a desperate swim through floodwaters to a cabin on higher ground. They were later evacuated by bus.
While the Boyett brothers escaped with their lives, many others weren’t as fortunate. As of Saturday, at least 43 people have died in Kerr County, including 15 children.
Tragedy has struck Camp Mystic, another summer camp in Hunt, where four families are mourning the loss of young campers: Janie Hunt, Renee Smajstrla, Sarah Marsh, and Lila Bonner—all confirmed dead.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announced that over 20 campers remain missing from the private Christian summer camp, which hosts about 750 children each season. More than 850 residents in the surrounding area have been evacuated.
Shawn, the uncle of victim Renee Smajstrla, shared his heartbreak on Facebook: “Renee has been found, and while it was not the outcome we prayed for, we’re thankful she was with her friends, smiling and enjoying life.”
Elsewhere, grieving families continue to search for answers. Anne Hunt, whose daughter remains missing, told CNN the family is desperate for any updates.
The Bonner family, also searching for their daughter, issued a statement: “In the midst of our unimaginable grief, we ask for privacy… We ache with all who loved her and are praying endlessly for others to be spared from this tragic loss.”
Search and rescue operations remain underway with law enforcement, helicopters, drones, and volunteers working tirelessly to locate the missing amid the devastation.
