That Night Felt Wrong…
The rain fell heavier than anyone expected, but no one could predict how quickly the river would swell. An eerie silence blanketed the town — too quiet, too still — as if nature was holding its breath before unleashing chaos.
Locals sensed the tension but heard no alarms, no warnings. Then, under the cover of darkness, the peaceful night shattered with screams, rushing water, and desperate cries for help. Amid the turmoil, one father held his children close—unaware those would be their final moments together.
Texas Father’s Last Stand: Clinging to His Children as Floodwaters Take Them All
In the wake of last week’s devastating floods in Texas, a haunting scene emerged from the wreckage: a father, gripping his children tightly while rising waters swept through their campsite. Despite frantic calls from nearby neighbors pleading for him to release the kids so they could be saved, he refused to let go — a tragic choice that cost them all their lives, eyewitnesses recounted.
“My husband was in the water, begging him, ‘Please, give me your baby!’ but he held on too tight… then the current took them,” said Lorena Guillen, owner of Blue Oak RV Park in Kerr County, one of the hardest-hit areas.
The man was identified as John Burgess, a Liberty, Texas resident. Authorities confirmed Burgess’s death, while his wife, Julia, and their two sons remain missing. Their daughter, safely attending summer camp nearby, escaped the tragedy unharmed.
Guillen shared bittersweet memories of the family’s arrival, hoping to enjoy a joyful Fourth of July together. “The kids were thrilled to be here,” she said, her voice heavy with grief.
She recalled the terrifying hours as floodwaters rose with terrifying speed. All 28 RVs in the park were destroyed. “The night was filled with crashing sounds and screams. Cabins floated through the air, smashing into trees. It’s a memory I can’t erase,” Guillen said.
She had closed her other business, Howdy’s Bar, just before midnight when the rain began intensifying. At 2:30 a.m., she checked the Guadalupe River, which appeared deceptively calm. Concerned, she called the sheriff’s office, but they had no evacuation orders at the time.
By 3:30 a.m., flashing emergency lights pierced the darkness. The river had surged nearly 10 feet in less than an hour. Guillen and her husband went door-to-door, urging RV guests to flee as the water rose rapidly.
One family’s RV, parked closest to the riverbank, was already adrift in total darkness. “It was pitch black,” she said, “like a nightmare unfolding in silence.”
Tragically, eight bodies were recovered from Guillen’s property, including two young girls trapped beneath debris. Nearby, the other RV park reported 40 people missing. The Guadalupe River’s waters rose an astonishing 27 feet in just 45 minutes, leaving behind destruction and heartbreak.
Guillen believes many lives could have been spared with stronger early-warning systems. “Why don’t we have loud alarms sounding for every home or at least every mile? Something must change. I pray no one else has to suffer like this,” she urged.
Despite her sorrow, she praised the first responders. “They did everything they could with the limited resources they had,” she said. “It’s not their fault. They were powerless without better funding for sensors and alerts.”
The scale of the disaster stunned residents. “Even elders say this was unlike anything they’ve ever witnessed,” Guillen added, underscoring the flood’s historic ferocity.
Conclusion
The tragic loss of John Burgess and his family stands as a haunting testament to nature’s merciless power and life’s fragile hold. His desperate, loving refusal to let go of his children amidst the rising floodwaters reminds us of both human courage and vulnerability. As survivors share their stories, the urgent need for improved early-warning systems and community preparedness becomes clear. While the heroism of rescuers shines through, this catastrophe calls on us all to support those grieving and to advocate for measures that protect vulnerable communities before disaster strikes again.