Miraculous way dog survived biblical Texas floods as he's reunited with family
The Vlaseks narrowly escaped the floods by evacuating their Kerr County home before the vicious floodwaters swept them away.
They were forced to leave their dog behind amid the chaos. The family of three fortunately made it to higher ground, but returned to their home to find nothing but rubble.
Cody Vlasek, a high school senior, was forced to reckon with the grim reality that his childhood home and his dog were gone forever.
Then he heard noises that sounded like an animal.
'I had to break my window, and when I climbed through, I heard scratching and a whimper,' Cody recalled to local ABC affiliate, KENS5.
'I turned my head around the corner and saw him just floating in the washer.'
The miracle was a small silver lining in the tragedy that claimed over 129 lives and left at least 160 individuals unaccounted for across Kerr County.
Cody recalled the terrifying moment he saw flood waters engulfing his home, before yelling to his parents that they had to evacuate.
He told KENS5 that their house was almost 30 feet away from the floodplain of the Guadalupe River.
The family awoke in the middle of the night to heavy rain, and Cody went outside with his father to see that the water had already reached their backyard fence.
'The current — it almost, almost tripped some of us,' the high schooler said.
The family rushed to escape their home and made it to safety at a neighbor's house uphill. Cody said the water had reached his waist when they evacuated.
They returned to find their house was demolished, and many of their neighbors didn't make it out.
'You can replace a house, but you can't replace lives,' Cody told KENS5.
Search efforts have continued to locate the missing individuals as authorities grapple with accusations that evacuations were delayed.
Among the victims of the flood were 27 young girls from Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp that took the brunt of the flood.
The youngest campers, many under the age of 10, were staying in cabins closest to the river and lost their lives.
On Friday, President Donald Trump visited the flood path with First Lady Melania Trump.
The president and first lady joined republican lawmakers, federal officials, Governor Greg Abbott, and Senator Ted Cruz.
After the visit, Trump held a roundtable discussion with local and federal law makers. When a reporter asked him why alerts weren't sent to residents in the flood path sooner, Trump fired back, 'Only a bad person would ask a question like that.'
'To be honest with you, I don't know who you are, but only a very evil person would ask a question like that.'
Abbott said in a tweet on Friday night that rescue teams would continue to search for the missing individuals.
'We are unrelenting. The families deserve nothing less,' he said.
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The Sun
10 hours ago
- The Sun
Five types of people who should NEVER own a dog, according to a pro trainer, and the bad habit that could see you fined
WE all love the idea of a loyal furry friend waiting for us at home is undeniably cute but according to one dog expert, not everyone is cut out to be a pet parent. Professional trainer Sam the Dog Trainer has revealed the five types of people he says should never own a dog, no matter how much they think they love animals. 2 2 Speaking to Metro, Sam said: 'I meet and see a lot of people who shouldn't own a dog. If you get offended by what I'm about to say, then you shouldn't own a dog.' Procrastinators Next is the 'Sluggard', also known as the procrastinator. These are the people who love the idea of a dog, but struggle with the daily reality. Walks are skipped, meals forgotten, toys left chewed up, and the house ends up looking like a kennel. Sam explained that for these unmotivated types, dog ownership becomes a burden, and the dog often ends up suffering for it. 'There's always something better to do than take care of the dog,' he added. Mummy and Daddy First up, he warned about the 'Mummy and Daddy' types, which are people who treat their dog like a human baby. These owners often coddle their pets to the point it does more harm than good. Sam says they 'refuse to treat a dog like a dog' and instead project their own emotional needs onto them, spoiling them rotten, skipping basic training, and ignoring the fact that dogs actually thrive under structure and leadership. This results in a confused, often anxious pup that doesn't know the rules. Frugal owners Then there's the 'Cheapskate'. Sam has no issue with people on a budget but it is those who have the money but refuse to spend any on proper pet care that really grind his gears. These are the owners who'll splash out on a new phone but won't pay for quality food, vet bills, or grooming essentials. 'Their idea of bargain shopping is not about value, it's about finding excuses to avoid spending money on their dog at all,' Sam said. Clout chasers Lastly, Sam slammed the 'Acquirer', which is the kind of person who chooses a dog based on clout or aesthetics, rather than actually wanting a companion. 'These people get a dog because it'll get them something,' he said, whether that's attention on social media, compliments from strangers, or just to fit a trendy lifestyle. Sam warned that these types lack genuine compassion and may easily ditch their pet when the novelty wears off. Nitwit And finally, there's the 'Nitwit' – arguably the most dangerous type of all. These are the negligent owners who fail to meet even the most basic responsibilities. They let their dogs roam the streets, skip vaccinations, ignore aggressive behaviour, or allow kids and strangers to tease and provoke their pets. They don't provide safety, boundaries or protection, often putting both their dog and the public at risk. This kind of neglect isn't just irresponsible, it can be criminal. In the UK, those found guilty of abandoning or failing their duty of care to an animal can face fines of up to £40,000, a year in prison, or both. So before you start browsing puppies online or dreaming of cosy nights with a four-legged friend, Sam says to take a long, honest look at your lifestyle. Because according to Sam, if you fall into any of these categories, you might want to think twice, for the sake of the dog. Britain's favourite dog breeds HERE are the top ten dog breeds in the UK.... Labrador Retriever Renowned for their friendly and outgoing nature. Popular as both family pets and working dogs. French Bulldog Known for their distinctive bat-like ears and affectionate temperament. Ideal for city living due to their small size. Cocker Spaniel Beloved for their playful and loyal disposition. Excellent companions for active families. Pug Recognised for their charming wrinkled faces and sociable nature. Adaptable to various living environments. Staffordshire Bull Terrier Valued for their courageous and loving character. Strong and muscular build, yet gentle with children. Dachshund Adored for their distinctive long bodies and lively personality. Comes in a variety of coat types: smooth, wire, and long-haired. Border Collie Celebrated for their intelligence and energy. Excellent working dogs, especially in herding. Golden Retriever Known for their friendly and tolerant attitude. Great family pets and skilled in various service roles. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Cherished for their gentle and affectionate nature. Small size makes them perfect for lap dogs. German Shepherd Admired for their loyalty and versatility. Commonly used in police and military roles due to their trainability.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Astonishing stories of air crash sole survivors from woman who somehow cheated death after plunging 33,000ft without a parachute to child found still strapped in his seat
Flight attendant Vesna Vulovic was trapped by her food trolley at the tail end of Yugoslav Airlines Douglas DC-9 as it hurtled 33,000ft down to earth. A bomb had blown a hole in the jet as it passed over Czechoslovakia late on January 26, 1972, filling the cabin with thin, freezing air. Apart from Ms Vulovic, all other passengers and crew on board died as the plane crashed down into a heavily wooded patch of the snow-capped mountainside. Luck had saved Vesna Vulovic as the plane broke up around her during its descent. Her screams would save her again, as she was rescued by a nearby woodsman before falling into a coma for three days. Ms Vulovic became a local celebrity after emerging relatively unscathed from the highest fall survived without a parachute. Over the years, terrifying stories have emerged of the rare instances where sole survivors walk away from plane crashes against astonishing odds. Ms Vulovic's has become one story among many. These are the astonishing stories of the remarkable few who beat these odds and lived to tell the tale. The air hostess who plummeted 33,000ft without a parachute and somehow survived Former air hostess Vesna Vulovic still holds the record for surviving the highest fall without a parachute, even despite dying in 2016. On January 26 1972, Vulovic boarded Yugoslav Airlines Flight 367 as one of three air hostesses serving the 23 passengers and two pilots that day. The plane, flying from Stockholm, Sweden, to Belgrade, in then-Yugoslavia, was blown up by a bomb hidden in a checked bag mid-flight. Jettisoned from the plane, then-22-year-old Vulovic miraculously survived a 33,330ft fall to the ground below her. She was the only survivor of the attack, believed to have been carried out by Croatian fascists. The tragedy of Vesna's story was that she wasn't even meant to be on the flight - the airline she worked for had mixed her up with another stewardess with the same first name. Though she had drawn the short straw, and turned up to work that fateful day not knowing that she was so close to it being her last, luck ended up saving Vesna, as the plane broke up around her during its descent. Vulovic was found severely injured, howling in pain. Her turquoise uniform was soaked in her own blood. She said she was found with her legs sticking out of the plane's still-smoking fuselage on a snowy hill. A local villager, who found her after hearing her tortured screams amid the rapid thud of bodies hitting the ground, managed to keep her alive until rescuers came. Luck would save her one again. By some miracle, the villager had been a medic during the Second World War, and was able to keep calm under pressure and administer first aid. For three days she was comatose, having fractured her skull and suffered a cerebral haemorrhage. She also broke both her legs, three vertebrae and several ribs. Her pelvis was also fractured, and was paralysed. Despite this, she managed to start walking again after 10 months - a feat the says was the result of her Serbian stubbornness, as well as a childhood diet of chocolate, spinach and fish oil. But it wasn't only her body that was broken. Her spirit was crushed, having been the only survivor. The air hostess said following the terror attack: 'Whenever I think of the accident, I have a prevailing, grave feeling of guilt for surviving it and I cry.' Despite the terror she went through, she said she is not afraid to fly as she doesn't quite remember exactly what happened to her that day. Even years later, after living as a national hero for surviving the attack, she spoke of the hardship living in Belgrade and of the guilt she still carried with her. 'I don't know what to say when people say I was lucky ... life is so hard today', she mournfully told the Independent. The four-year-old who survived a deadly crash still strapped to her seat The sole survivor of this internal American flight, carrying passengers from Detroit, Michigan, to Phoenix, Arizona, was four-year-old Cecelia Cichan. She and her family were travelling home to the Copper State when the plane crashed shortly after taking off on August 16 1987. The plane, a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, clipped a light as it took off. The accident forced the entire plane into a 90-degree roll, sending it careening towards the ground. After taking off the top of a rental car building, it crashed into a busy nearby road before being engulfed in its own fireball. Almost all the 155 souls onboard the flight perished, save for the young child. Emergency workers who rushed to the scene of the crash found little Cecelia still strapped to her seat. Her body was all but broken, having suffered severe burns and multiple fractures. Despite not remembering the crash, Cecelia revealed she still feels the tremendous guilt of surviving. 'I remember feeling angry and survivor's guilt. Why didn't my brother survive? Why me', she said in an interview with CNN. To honour her lost family, she bears a tattoo of an aeroplane on her wrist 'as a reminder of where I come from. The teenager who trekked 11 days through the Amazon after crashing Juliana Koepcke was already indignant when she and her mother, Maria, boarded Peru-bound Lansa Flight 508. They had been kept waiting for seven hours at Lima, hoping to get back to father and husband Hans-Wilhelm before Christmas 1971. Despite warnings that Lansa had a poor reputation, the mother and daughter duo were desperate to reunite with Hans-Wilhelm for the holidays. But just short while into the Christmas Eve flight, lightning struck the aircraft's wing, setting it alight. It quickly burned through the structure, causing the plane to crash deep into the Amazon jungle. Just 14 of the 91 people onboard survived the initial crash. Juliana was one of them. She had been saved by being strapped to her seat. By some miracle, she had spent her life preparing for this scenario. Having been raised by two zoologists, she had been trained in survival skills. The determined 17-year-old, suffering a broken collarbone, a deep cut on her right arm, an eye injury and a concussion, spent 11 days trekking through the Amazon to find civilisation. While making her way through the jungle, she dealt with horrifying insect bites and an infestation of botfly larvae in her arm, and after nine days found a local lumberjacking camp. Workers quickly sent her to a more inhabited area, before she was airlifted to a hospital. Following her own survival, she tragically learned that everyone else who has survived the initial crash had died waiting for help, including her own mother. Juliana later told the BBC: 'I found out that [Maria] also survived the crash but was badly injured and she couldn't move. She died several days later. I dread to think what her last days were like.' The 'miracle girl' who clung to floating debris for 13 hours France's so-called 'Miracle Girl' was just 12 when she survived a nightmarish, 13-hour fight for her life. Bahia Bakari, with no life vest, was forced to cling to the wreckage of Yemenia Flight 626 in the dark after it plunged into the Indian Ocean on 30 June 2009. The young girl and her mother had been travelling from Paris, France, to Comoros for a summer holiday, when the plane stalled and crashed into the ocean just minutes before they were due to land. Bahia, who was never a strong swimmer growing up, initially heard the voices of what she believed were other survivors. But slowly through the night, those voices faded until she was left on her own. She was found by clinging to a piece of debris, among a mass of bodies and plane wreckage. Bahia's mother had tragically died in the initial crash, one of the 152 souls who lost their lives on that tragic day. One of the last things she said to her daughter was: 'Did you fasten your seatbelt?' The nine-year-old traveller found still conscious in his seat Dutch boy Ruben Van Assouw is one of the youngest sole survivors of a plane crash, somehow being the only one to live of the 104 people onboard the plane. Flying from Johannesburg, South Africa, to Tripoli, Libya, on May 12 2010, the Afriqiyah Airways plane crashed after the pilots messed up the descent into Libya's capital. The Airbus A330-200 crashed around 1.2km short of the runway, following a series of misunderstandings between the pilots who failed to communicate properly with each other. Ruben, who was nine at the time of the crash, was returning home to the Netherlands following a safari trip with his mother, father and brother, all of whom died in the accident. The impact, which sent hot metal flying up to half a mile away from the crash site, had a severe impact on little Ruben's body - he suffered significant leg fractures. The boy was found semi-conscious and still strapped to his seat some distance from the plane crash. After he was taken to hospital, he was taken back to the Netherlands by his aunt and uncle, who raised him from that day on. Although he chose to stay out of the limelight for the rest of his life, a recent book titled 'Dear Edward' that was based partly on his story was published a few years ago. The woman who lost her husband and went on t be a motivational speaker Mailen Diaz Almaguer was just 19 when she lost her husband in a tragic plane crash in Cuba on May 18 2018. According to eyewitnesses, the engines of Global Air Flight 0972 were ablaze shortly after takeoff, after which the plane disappeared behind trees and crashed into a field. As the sole survivor of the plane, which was carrying 105 souls from the Cuban capital Havana to Holguin, Cuba, Mailen struggled immensely in the days after the crash. Though she was one of three to initially survive the crash, the two other survivors tragically succumbed to their injuries. And after 70 days of treatment, doctors made the extraordinarily difficult decision to amputate her left leg. But Mailen hasn't allowed her grief or injury hold her back. Since the 2018 crash, she has become an inspirational speaker. In 2021, she filmed an emotional video in which she boarded a plane for the first time since the accident.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
New footage from Bali helicopter shows moment Aussie parents crashed after plunging 300metres
A heartbroken couple has revealed they can barely care for their children one year on from a devastating helicopter crash in Bali. Aussie miner Russell Harris and his Indonesian partner Keylla were among five people who were on board a scenic chopper flight when it crashed near Pecatu on the Indonesian island's south coast on July 19, 2024. The Bell Jet Model 505 collided with a ceremonial kite string, which tangled around the helicopter's main rotor, just three minutes into the flight and plunged 300metres. The pair relived the near-death experience on the one-year anniversary of the crash, sharing horrifying footage from the chopper and claims the company, PT. Whitesky Aviation, backtracked on an agreement to cover their medical expenses. Keylla, visibly emotional, told 9News the crash had completely upended her life. 'Since the accident, I can't work, I can't even take care of my kids,' she said. 'So these people need to know that our life is totally messed up.' Mr Harris, who was filming as the helicopter began hurtling towards the ground, recalled the terrifying moment he landed upside down. 'I'm upside down. I cannot release myself. I cannot get out. I'm trying for all my life because all I'm looking at is this fluid dripping in front of me,' he said. 'I'm thinking, "I've survived before, but now I'm about to die in a fireball".' The two Australian tourists and three Indonesian nationals onboard all survived. Early investigations confirmed the aircraft's rotor became wrapped in the kite's string shortly after takeoff, causing the pilot to lose control. Bali's aviation authorities have since launched a review into kite flying regulations near airports and popular flight paths in a bid to prevent similar accidents. Despite surviving the ordeal, the couple say the true battle began after the crash. They claim PT. Whitesky Aviation, which operates under the name Bali Heli Tour, stopped covering their medical bills just three months after the incident, despite promising to pay for long-term treatment. 'If they stuck to their agreement and we got the right treatment that we're supposed to get, would we be sitting here in a comfortable state? Absolutely,' Mr Harris alleged. The pair chose to speak out publicly on the anniversary of the crash to put pressure on the operator to honour its alleged commitment. PT. Whitesky Aviation has yet to respond to the couple's claims but continues to offer scenic flights to tourists visiting Bali. Authorities say safety protocols have been reviewed in the wake of the incident, with tougher rules around kite flying being considered as part of the ongoing investigation.
