How a Texas Dad’s Last Words Saved His Family
I suppose I have to spell this out for you: a 27-year-old Texas dad named Julian Ryan turned a flooded trailer into a one-man rescue operation, and yes, it’s as harrowing as it sounds. Early Friday morning, as violent storms unleashed catastrophic flooding across parts of Texas, Ryan’s family awoke around 4 AM to gouging water pouring into their modest Guadalupe River home. Instead of waiting for help—which, spoiler alert, never arrived in time—he punched through a bedroom window with his bare hands, even though the jagged glass severed an artery and nearly cost him his arm.
By that point, Ryan and his fiancée Christinia had already placed their two children—a six-year-old and a thirteen-month-old—on a floating mattress. Meanwhile, their grandmother clung to hope in the rising torrent. When rescue teams couldn’t break through the raging current despite Christinia’s frantic 911 calls, Ryan realized his only option was to force an escape route himself. Sources including KHOU and TMZ report that after ripping open the window, he directed his family through the makeshift exit even as blood pooled around him.
It was during that final, selfless act that Ryan paused, looked at his loved ones, and said the words heard around the state: “I’m sorry, I’m not going to make it. I love y’all.” Those six heartbreaking words, confirmed by Christinia in a KHOU interview, cemented his status as a local hero. Moments later, the trailer split in half under the immense pressure of the raging waters, allowing Mother, fiancée, and kids to swim to safety.
Emergency crews could only watch until the floodwaters began to recede. Hours passed before Ryan’s body was recovered, his sacrifice immortalized by a growing GoFundMe campaign that’s already raised over $25,000 for funeral expenses and the family’s future. Local meteorologists warn even more rain is on the way, and as of Sunday morning, the death toll stands at 52 lives lost statewide.
In case you were wondering how to turn this tragedy into something actionable, you can chip in on the family’s GoFundMe or check updates on NOAA’s flood watch maps to stay safe yourself. There you have it: life-and-death drama, a real American hero, and a weather forecast that’s anything but boring. Hope you weren’t too confused.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and TMZ.com, KHOU.com, GoFundMe.com
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
