Family Reveals Heartbreaking Final Words Said by Dad, 27, Before He Died in Texas Flooding Tragedy

Julian Ryan was remembered as “the hero in this story” following his July 4 death

A family has revealed a young dad’s heartbreaking final words before he was killed in the Texas flooding tragedy late last week.

Julian Ryan was with his wife, Christinia Wilson, and their children and his mother at his home in Ingram when the water in the nearby Guadalupe River began to rise on the morning of Friday, July 4, according to CBS affiliate KHOU.

Wilson told the outlet that within less than half an hour, water was inside their house. “It just started pouring in, and we had to fight the door to get it closed to make sure not too much got in. We went back to the room and started calling 911,” she said.

Realizing the imminent danger, Wilson told KHOU that Ryan, 27, punched a window in the home to allow his family members to exit to safety, but he injured himself in the process. “It severed his artery in his arm and almost cut it clean off,” she said.

Despite continued calls to 911, Wilson said police were unable to assist the family, and Ryan shared an emotional goodbye with his loved ones before he died, telling them, “I’m sorry, I’m not going to make it. I love y’all.” Wilson told KHOU 11 that her husband’s body wasn’t recovered until hours later.

“He was a good man,” Wilson told PEOPLE in a statement. “He was strong and loving and always happy. He tried to save us, and we will forever be grateful and miss him. He’s still with us, and I see him every day in our son.”

Speaking with KHOU, Ryan’s loved ones praised his courageous actions. Ryan’s sister, Connie Salas, said, “He is the hero in this story,” while Kris Roberts, his best friend, added, “He’s the kindest person I’ve ever met in my life, and I’ll forever love him no matter what.”

In a GoFundMe set up to “help alleviate the unforeseen financial burdens” in the wake of Ryan’s death, he was described as “a cherished son and devoted parent and [husband] who was dedicated to his family.”

“He was known to have an infectious laugh and unwavering kindness,” the fundraiser stated. “He touched countless lives with his humor and will be deeply missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.”

More than 50 people have been confirmed dead, and numerous others remain missing, due to the flooding as of the morning of Sunday, July 6, NBC News, CNN and The Washington Post reported.

Some of the dead and missing include campers of Camp Mystic — an all-girls, Christian summer camp — grandparents and a family of four.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in an initial statement the state “is providing all necessary resources to Kerrville, Ingram, Hunt and the entire Texas Hill Country dealing with these devastating floods.” In another, shared a day later, he issued a proclamation declaring Sunday, July 6, a “Day of Prayer” in Texas.

Ryan’s family told KHOU that they believe better preparations could’ve been taken within Texas, including the use of flood sirens.

“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.”

Heartbreaking final words of brave father who died saving kids and fiancée from floods revealed by family

Julian Ryan severed an artery whilst desperately smashing through a window

The final words of the brave fiancé and father of two children who lost his life in the Texas floods have been revealed.

A state of emergency was declared for multiple Texan counties on Friday, July 4 after one month’s worth of rain poured down on the US state in a matter of hours. The Guadalupe River rose to 26 feet and at least 50 people died.

In Kerr Country, Julian Ryan passed away, having saved his family by punching through a window as their Ingram trailer home filled up with water.

His mother, fiancée Christinia Wilson, and the couple’s six-year-old and one-year-old children huddled in the bedroom as the surging deluge awoke them before dawn.

Interviewed by local news station KHOU 11, Christinia recounted her other half’s heroics and parting words as he succumbed to his injuries.

“[Water] just started pouring in, we had to fight the door to get it closed tried to hold the door closed, just so that too much didn’t come in,” she said.

“We ran back into the room and we started calling 911 but it just kept coming. We had no choice but to get out.”

Julian proceeded to smash a window so they could climb up to the trailer’s roof, but he severed an artery in doing so – nearly slicing the whole limb off.

“It almost cut it clean off,” noted Christinia.

Despite his life-threatening injury, and emergency responders unable to get there, Julian continued to focus on making sure everyone else was safe.

His fiancée added: “About six o’clock my husband was dead. He had lost all of it… all of his blood.

“He looked at me, the kids, and his mother and said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m not going to make it. I love y’all.’”

Following Julian’s incredible act of selflessness, his sister Connie Salas told KHOU 11 he ‘died a hero’ and ‘that will never go unnoticed’.

Close friend Kris Roberts also went on to share: “He’s the kindest person I’ve ever met in my life. I’ll forever love him no matter what.”

Anyone looking to support the family in their funeral plans for Ryan can now donate via a GoFundMe page.

“Julian gave his life for his family, passing as a true hero,” a family statement reads.

“While we are eternally grateful for his sacrifice, we are shattered by our loss. His sudden departure has left an unfillable void in all our lives.

“He was known to have an infectious laugh and unwavering kindness. He touched countless lives with his humour and will be deeply missed by everyone who had the privilege of knowing him.

“This unimaginable tragic loss has left his mother, fiancé, brothers, and sister facing not only immense emotional pain but also significant unforeseen financial burden. We are hoping to help alleviate the unforeseen financial burdens that come with such a sudden tragedy.

“No one is ever prepared for such a loss, especially one that comes so suddenly. Any contribution, no matter how small, will make a significant difference and will be profoundly appreciated as the family navigates this heartbreaking time.”

Father left harrowing voicemail to his kids before he was ‘swept away’ by Texas floods with death toll rising over 100

Jeff Ramsey called his kids moments before he was ‘swept away’ by floods

A father left a harrowing voicemail to his kids before being ‘swept away’ in the Texas floods.

Flash floods struck on Friday (4 July) with the governor of the US state saying at least 161 people are still missing with more than 100 people killed across central areas.

Officials said in an update that four days have passed since anyone was found alive in the aftermath of the floods in Kerr County.

Heavy rainpour caused the Guadalupe River to rapidly rise, with a wall of water slamming into camps and homes along the river’s edge before daybreak on Friday.

Among the victims were the 27 campers and counsellors at Camp Mystic, a century-old all-girls Christian summer camp.

And another of those missing is Jeff Ramsey, 61, who was staying in his Airstream camper at the HTW RV Park in Kerrville with his wife, Tanya, 46, and their dog, Chloe.

Just moments before floodwaters swept them away, the dad called his two kids to say goodbye.

His son Jake told The New York Post: “Once they realized there was nothing they could do; my stepmom was on the phone with her mom while my dad made a call to me and my sister. We were asleep.

“He left us a message saying he was not going to make it and that he loved us so much, telling us goodbye.”

Jake said the call came once Jeff realised there ‘was no hope’ and left the voicemail which said: “Buddy. I love you so much. It doesn’t look like we are going to make it. Tell Rachey I love her.”

The son added: “You never heard this guy panic but we heard panic and fear in his voice.”

And tragically, the sound of rushing water could be heard in the voicemail left for his sister just minutes later, as their step-mum screamed in the background: “We’re dying, we’re dying!”

In his final moments, Jeff also called Tanya’s brother and mum who were staying at a cabin about 150 yards up from the river, to warn them of the danger.

“He rescued them because they would have slept in and they would have washed away. That cabin was destroyed, completely underwater. He saved their lives,” Jake added.

Tanya’s body was later found by rescuers with the dog Chloe miraculously found alive at a local animal shelter.

“That was the only good news that we’ve gotten all weekend. My sister and I were overjoyed because that is such a huge piece of my dad’s heart and my step-mum’s heart,” Jake said.

The son added that he later saw an alert text message from the RV park, sent too late.

Calling the situation his ‘worst nightmare’, Jake explained: “Literally, the same time he left her that voicemail as they were getting swept away, they received an evacuation text from their RV park saying ‘gather your belongings and head out as soon as possible.’ It was ridiculous.”