logo
Heartbreaking vids show kids having fun at Camp Mystic – before singing through sobs & tears as they flee deadly floods

Heartbreaking vids show kids having fun at Camp Mystic – before singing through sobs & tears as they flee deadly floods

The Irish Sun3 days ago
HEARTBREAKING video shows girls having fun at Camp Mystic just days before flooding would tragically kill five.
Dozens were
Advertisement
8
Campers played games just hours before disaster struck
Credit: Devon Paige
8
A Camp Mystic nurse captured the campers singing as they are evacauted
Credit: Devon Paige
8
The bus evacuating the girls drone through a flooded river
Credit: Devon Paige
8
The young girls sing worship songs as they drive through the devastated zone - with trees torn up, fences pushed over, and cars pushed on top of each other.
At least 10 girls and one councillor remain missing from the camp which sat on the bank of the
Video shows girls laughing and playing games at the historic all-girls Christian camp - which is nearly a century old.
They include running around the dining room with trays above their head, carrying another girl in a team game, and a sport on a field.
Advertisement
Read more on US News
But hours later they would be evacuated in the horrific tragedy.
The
Younger girls slept in cabins just 500ft from the river on a small flat area of land off a bend in the watercourse.
At least 28 children died in Kerr County - where Camp Mystic is located.
Advertisement
Most read in The US Sun
Breaking
Exclusive
Exclusive
Tragically, three girls confirmed to have died at Mystic River were aged 8 and 9 years old.
Older girls slept in cabins further away from the flooding.
Trump mourns 'unimaginable tragedy' as deaths rise to 78 in Texas floods with 10 girls still missing from Camp Mystic
As the water quickly rose the girls were forced to flee, with adults at the camp desperately trying to save them.
But the flooding was too strong and at least 30 adults, like the camp's beloved director Dick Eastland, were killed.
Advertisement
Camp Mystic said in a statement: 'This tragedy has devastated us and our entire community.
'Our hearts are broken alongside the families that are enduring this tragedy, and we share their hope and prayers.'
8
Best friends Eloise Peck and Lila Bonner were sharing a cabin and both lost their lives
Credit: X/Keenan Willard
8
Floodwater rose into the cabins in the disaster
Credit: AFP
Advertisement
Rescuers are now scouring the
A total of 41 people remain missing, according to Governor Greg Abbott.
Camper Lila Bonner tragically was one of those killed with her
family
releasing a statement confirming her death.
They wrote: "In the midst of our unimaginable grief, we ask for privacy and are unable to confirm any details at this time.
Advertisement
"We ache with all who loved her and are praying endlessly."
Lila shared a cabin with her best friend Eloise Peck, 8, who also lost her life.
8
Girls could be seen playing games in the dining room
Credit: Devon Paige
8
They also played team games having to carry each other in a race
Credit: Devon Paige
Advertisement
Her mom, Missy Peck, told
dogs
and
animals
.
'She passed away with her cabinmate and best friend Lila Bonner who also died.
"Eloise had a
family
who loved her fiercely for the 8 years she was with us. Especially her Mommy.'
A total of 41 people remain missing, according to Governor Greg Abbott.
Advertisement
It comes as Donald Trump announced he signed a Major Disaster Declaration for Kerr County to help search efforts in response to the "unimaginable tragedy" in Texas.
'Miracle' survival: Rescued 20 miles downstream
By
A YOUNG woman was miraculously rescued after being swept 20 miles downriver in the Texas floods.
The 22-year-old was scooped up by
from her campsite in Kerr County, Texas by
at 4am, and found clinging to a tree four hours later
.
A third of a year's worth of rain fell in a few hours in the area, creating an "extraordinary disaster", with an enormous search-and-rescue mission still underway.
A Center Point resident, Carl, heard screaming when he stepped into his yard at around 8am on Friday morning.
He spotted the woman clinging to a huge Cyprus tree near Lion's Park Dam as the river thundered beneath her.
She had for been holding on for several hours after a terrifying 20-mile journey down dams and dodging debris.
Emergency calls weren't connecting, so the local resident desperately flagged down a police car for help.
Two
By this time, the water level had receded considerably, so the woman was stranded 12ft above the water's surface.
She was forced to drop into the rescue boat, and was finally brought to safety.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Locky O'Gorman was a Wexford farmer who always helped those in need
Locky O'Gorman was a Wexford farmer who always helped those in need

Irish Independent

time3 hours ago

  • Irish Independent

Locky O'Gorman was a Wexford farmer who always helped those in need

His funeral took place on Monday, July 7, where a number of gifts were carried to the altar by relatives that encompassed his life. These gifts included the sculpture of a goat to represent his dedication to helping communities by exporting goats, a bingo book as he was a well-known regular at the bingo halls, and a toy tractor as a nod to his fascination with machinery and tractors as a farmer. Rev James Nolan who presided over the ceremony, also gave a speech about Locky as his good friend. Locky was one of ten children born in 1943. He attended school in Caim and Enniscorthy and later took up employment with Candy Tours Carlow and the Enniscorthy Mart where he made friends with all and friends for life and where part of his job entailed loading young calves onto the boat at Rosslare for export. He met the woman of his dreams, his wife Ann, and married in the same church in 1975, 50 years ago. Rev Nolan spoke about the significance of his name, and how Loughlin had viking roots and was associated with being a seafarer and a warrior. "And I think that is where Locky got his warrior instinct from, always about business, a man who would not hide away, a man that was keen on the job,' he said. He said that Locky, who was a big presence in the Enniscorthy Mart, also made sure to enjoy himself and especially during his retirement. "He enjoyed Bingo in Clonroche and Rathnure where he went weekly. In his years of retirement he minded goats for the missions and Irish aid organisations specialising in providing families in Africa with meat, milk and offspring. His Christian heart was selfless.' 'He also knew how to enjoy himself by taking the family on holidays in Killarney,' he added. To conclude his speech, he thanked Locky for always showing great hospitality and welcoming others into his home. "It was always a house of hospitality. I'll let you in on a little secret, I look so well because I had breakfast in the O'Gorman's house every Wednesday morning and he is blessed with ham. Today we say goodbye to a good husband, a good father, and a good grandfather.' A number of loved ones also took to to leave messages of condolences. One mourner wrote: 'I've know Locky all my life and in later years on the Candy Tour. Syl and I had great chats and laughs with himself and Ann. He was always a lovely fellow and will be greatly missed in his native area and beyond.' Another wrote: 'He was such a lovely man and always had a smile on his face.' A further tribute read: 'Loughy was a pure gentleman, never pass you without a word.' Beloved husband of Ann, loving father of Brian and Colm, cherished son of the late Mark and Susan and dearly loved brother of Mary (Cloney), Mike, Nellie (Long), Pat, Josie (Kearney), Markie, Owen, Susan, Tom, Anne (Kehoe) and the late James, he will also be sadly missed by his daughters-in-law Siobhan and Sara, his grandchildren David, Dylan and Jodie, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, relatives and many friends.

Shocking moment paddleboarders in ‘Jaws' country come terrifyingly close to giant great white shark stalking waters
Shocking moment paddleboarders in ‘Jaws' country come terrifyingly close to giant great white shark stalking waters

The Irish Sun

time17 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Shocking moment paddleboarders in ‘Jaws' country come terrifyingly close to giant great white shark stalking waters

THIS is the terrifying moment paddleboarders in the "Jaws" country come dangerously close to a gargantuan great white shark. The creature swam just feet away from two pals enjoying the waters in Massachusetts on the Fourth of July. 4 The shark's fin is seen protruding from the water in the bottom right corner Credit: WHDH 4 Margaret's terrified face is captured in a picture Credit: WHDH 4 The shark's fin sticking out of the water Credit: WHDH College students Margaret Bowles and Maddie Cronin were splashing around on their paddleboards off Woods Hole on the southwest end of Cape Cod - when a terrifying great white shark emerged. The beast's eight-inch fin is captured in an image protruding from the water, panicking the two pals. Margaret is heard exclaiming in footage as she desperately jumps on her board for safety: "Oh!" The pair were in such disbelief at what they saw, they had to look back at Maddie's pictures and videos to confirm their suspicions. read more news Margaret's terrified face is captured in a picture, while the sea beast's fin is seen popping out of the water a mere few feet away. She told next to her, it's like eight inches out of the water sort of fleshy, gray and I'm like 'Oh my goodness that's a shark, we got to go.' "Once we were back to shore, I was kind of like no way, they aren't here. "It took a second to register that was what happened but it was a complete surprise. Most read in The US Sun "I've spent time teaching marine biology here and swimming in the ocean. I certainly never expected for a great white shark to wander my way. "I always operated under the assumption that there were no sharks in Woods Hole. Surfer mauled in 'shark bite capital of the world' after beast 'clamped down like a bear trap out of nowhere' "I would have friends down and they'd ask, 'Are there sharks here?' And I'd be like, 'No, no way.'" The students managed to keep their "cool" and scrambled back to shore without encountering any trouble. After returning safely, the two joked that the shark had just suffered some direction trouble and got lost in the waters. They named the beast "Steve". The shocking image showing the fin was sent off to experts, with the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries confirming the friends had in fact come face-to-face with a great white shark in Buzzards Bay. The shark encounter hasn't put the friends off returning to the beach however. Margaret added: "I've already gone swimming since then. I love the ocean. What happened was incredibly unlikely." What she did confess though is she is temporarily stopping wearing her wetsuit in the water. Margaret said: "That seems unadvisable at the time. "Hopefully 'Steve' moves on and I'll get right back to it." The shark sighting off the Stoney Beach shore is the first in the area in over a whopping two decades. The last confirmed sighting of a great white in Buzzards Bay was back in 2004, 4 The students managed to keep their 'cool' and scrambled back to shore without encountering any trouble Credit: WHDH

Camp Mystic director's tragic final act to save girls from Texas floods as wall of water tore through cabins killing 27
Camp Mystic director's tragic final act to save girls from Texas floods as wall of water tore through cabins killing 27

The Irish Sun

time2 days ago

  • The Irish Sun

Camp Mystic director's tragic final act to save girls from Texas floods as wall of water tore through cabins killing 27

THE director of Camp Mystic desperately tried to save young girls in a heartbreaking final act before the vacation spot was swamped by flooding. 7 Dick Eastland was killed trying to save campers at Camp Mystic Credit: Unpixs 7 Eastland has been hailed for his heroism Credit: Unpixs 7 Eastland has been branded a 'father figure' in glowing tributes Credit: Instagram/George Eastland The death toll stands at 82 and dozens still remain missing. Dick Eastland and his wife, Tweety, were the third-generation of their family to manage the camp, having bought it in 1974. He was trying to rescue young campers when the flooding hit the camp on July 4, located around 80 miles northwest of San Antonio. The Christian summer camp was overwhelmed after the Guadalupe River rose 26 feet in 45 minutes. read more on news Eastland's grandson, George, revealed his grandpa had died when the water crashed through the walls of the cabins. 'If he wasn't going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way—saving the girls that he so loved and cared for,' he wrote on 'That's the kind of man my grandfather was. He was a husband, father, grandfather, and a mentor to thousands of young women. 'Although he no longer walks this earth , his impact will never fade in the lives he touched.' Most read in The US Sun Eastland, who had previously fought brain cancer, was found dead near his car, as reported by the His body was discovered near some of the others killed in the flooding. Two brothers in miracle escape from Texas floods after they swam for their lives as water reached top bunk in camp cabin Tweety, meanwhile, was found safe at the family home. Paige Sumner, a family friend, has led the tributes to the camp director. In an op-ed to the Dick Eastland's grandson's tribute DICK Eastland, the director of Camp Mystic, was killed in the floods while trying to save young girls. His grandson, George, penned a tribute on social media. "If he wasn't going to die of natural causes, this was the only other way, saving the girls that he so loved and cared for. "That's the man my grandfather was. A husband, father, grandfather, and mentor to thousands of young women, he no longer walks this earth, but his impact will never leave the lives he touched. " Daddy Dicky, you were not just my grandpa, but my dear friend, fishing buddy, hunting guide, golf partner, avid Texas Longhorns fanatic, my fan, and above all else: a hero. I remember looking out the window on my way to my first career playoff game as Kerrville gathered to send us off. " My entire family was busy and I didn't expect anyone to show, but he was there with a big poster hoisted above his head, and an even bigger smile. "I'm proud that I made you a grandfather Daddy Dicky, but blessed that you made me the man I am today. "Although I am devastated, I can't say I'm surprised that you sacrificed your life with the hopes of someone else's being saved. "Life cannot possibly be the same without you, but the Eastland family will continue to remain faithful during these times. "We love you Daddy Dicky." Source: 'Dick and Tweety were also role models in their loving relationship,' she penned. 'When we looked at them, they were still that much in love.' She revealed that the couple were kind and welcoming when meeting them for the first time. Sumner also highlighted how Eastland was a selfless character, who would put the needs of others first. 'It doesn't surprise me at all that his last act of kindness and sacrifice was working to save the lives of campers,' she wrote. Ann Conner Yarbrough Armitage also wrote how it wasn't a surprise Eastland would try to save the lives of the children. ' He was so approachable, he always remembered my name, he was positive, kind and he loved his family,' she wrote on 'This is an unspeakable loss.' Texas lawmaker August Pfluger also paid a glowing tribute to Eastland for his bravery. 'Camp Mystic's Dick Eastland no doubt gave his life attempting to save his campers,' he wrote on 'Thank you Mr. Eastland. We love you and miss you.' Camp Mystic officials have confirmed that 27 campers and counselors have died. Around 750 kids were at the camp when the floods hit, according to cops in Kerr County. VICTIMS IDENTIFIED Janie Hunt, who is related to Clark Hunt, the owner of the Kansas City Chiefs, is among those who have been killed. Eloise Peck, eight, and nine-year-old Lila Bonner have also been identified as among the victims. Sisters Blair and Brooke Harber were holding tightly onto each other when their bodies were found - 15 miles downriver, according to their school Brooke was described as an accomplished basketball and soccer player, while Blair was an avid member of the yearbook team. Blair was looking forward to starring in the 8th grade play, according to the school. The sisters sent their parents a final text saying: 'I love you,' before they drowned. Blair and Brooke's parents were staying in another cabin near Hunt. High school coach Reece Zunker and his wife, Paula, also died in the floods, while dad-of-two Meanwhile, survivors have recalled the chaos that unfolded as the cabins were being flooded. Campers were washed away within minutes, Amanda Sue Jones told 'It was just immeasurably fast,' she added. Piers and Ruffin Boyett swam out of their cabins when it was flooding. "The cabins were flooding and the walls, they broke down," Piers told the ABC affiliate DEBRIS IN THE RIVER Volunteers taking part in the rescue mission have told how debris is slowing down the efforts. One person coined the operation 'nonstop turning and burning,' per Nick Sortor, who is part of Louisiana's United Cajun Navy, revealed pathways had to be created for rescue boats to access. Sortor said the river was filled with obstacles - some of which had to be chainsawed. Search teams have had to navigate snakes and debris as they comb the river. Meanwhile, Scott Ruskan, a Coast Guard rescue swimmer, has been credited with saving 165 people, as reported by He helped usher between 10 and 15 children at a time to helicopters, so they could be taken to safety. Kids were escorted onto Black Hawk UH-60 and MH-65 Dolphin aircraft to higher ground. Ruskan explained how he was trying to keep the children calm during the high-stakes rescue mission. He revealed that many of the survivors were without shoes and in their pajamas when they were evacuated, per Kristi Noem, the Director of Homeland Security, described Ruskan, who joined the Coast Guard in 2021, as an 'American hero,' saying he showed 'selfless courage.' Officials at the National Weather Service have come under scrutiny and they have defended their flood warnings and forecasts. The area that was impacted in Texas Hill Country is known as flash flood alley. Flood risks in areas of central Texas have been upgraded. Officials have warned that regions could be vulnerable to flash floods. 7 Towels and other clothes seen hanging on a clothes line Credit: AFP 7 Search and rescue workers seen wading through the waters Credit: Getty 7 Remnants of a Camp Mystic mailbox that was swept away Credit: AP 7 A damaged home near the camp Credit: AFP

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store