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Daily Mail
11-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Touching last gift of Camp Mystic girls killed in Texas floods as over $1M raised for charities in their honor
More than two dozen families were left devastated when raging floodwaters swept away cabins housing the youngest campers at Camp Mystic just seven days ago. At least 27 girls and staff at the Christian summer camp in Kerr County, Texas lost their lives when the Guadalupe River swelled on the Fourth of July. But some of those grieving parents are turning their tragedy into a force of good as they launch charities and memorial funds in honor of their daughters killed in the disaster. The families of Lila Bonner and Eloise 'Lulu' Peck are paying homage to their girls' love for animals by establishing foundations to help wildlife and local shelters. Memorial funds have been established in honor of Wynne Naylor, Linnie McCown and Hadley Hanna as their families work to create foundations that reflect the light the girls brought into the world. Donors have contributed a combined total of more than $1 million to the funds, which have all been created within the last five days. Over 100 bodies have been recovered from the deadly Texas flood waters, including 36 children, but the death toll is expected to grow as searches continue. At least 160 people are still missing in the flood-hit area, with many feared to be children washed away by the disaster. Officials say they are holding out hope that some may still be found alive, with some survivors saying they clung to trees for hours in desperate attempts to remain out of the fast moving currents. Lila Bonner's family has raised more than $460,000 for the soon-to-be established Lila's Light foundation, which aims to help animals affected by natural disasters. 'While our hearts are aching and processing this unimaginable loss, we are determined to spread Lila's Light into the world,' her family wrote in a GoFundMe campaign launched three days ago. 'Lila was a natural born leader who loved all creatures, big and small. Her confidence and determination left no doubt she would one day fulfill her dream of opening and operating an animal rescue.' Although Bonner will never be able to see her dream come to fruition, her love for animals will carry on through Lila's Light, her loved ones allege. The family is still in the process of formally creating the foundation but says 'our aim is to help ensure her legacy – and radiant light – continues to shine'. The Bonners have also partnered with a jeweler to sell amethyst cross pendants in honor of their little girl, with all net proceeds going directly to Lila's Light. Eloise Peck's family has dedicated themselves to a similar mission by launching a fund to construct a shelter at Blueberry Hill Farm and Rescue in Mena, Arkansas. The eight-year-old started a dog walking service earlier this summer and was donating 25 per cent of her earned proceeds to the rescue, the shelter says. The shelter, in partnership with the Pecks, will 'keep Lulu's memory alive' by 'nurturing hope and healing for animals'. 'Lulu's name will forever live on at BHFAR with a newly constructed shelter officially being named Lulu's Puppy Hut,' Blueberry Hill Farm and Rescue's website states. 'This shelter will provide much-needed warmth, safety, and a loving place for our foster puppies to stay until we find their forever homes.' It is unclear how much money Peck's fund has raised so far. The McCown, Hanna and Naylor families are honoring their daughters by creating memorial funds in their honor. The McCowns are planning to create a foundation in Linnie McCown's name, though it is unclear at that time what causes the charity will support. The family will be 'able to give and care for others in honor of their precious girl - her giggles, her sweetness, the way she made people feel seen and happy', a GoFundMe account established on their behalf states. 'It's such a beautiful way to carry her sweet spirit forward,' the fundraiser, which has already amassed more than $300,000 in donations, states. Hadley Hanna's loved ones are creating a legacy fund that they say 'exists to build something beautiful in her name' and pays tribute to the 'light she brought to this world'. The Hadley Hanna Legacy Fund will carry the 'joyful, creative, kind, and full of life' eight-year-old's spirit forward through a scholarship, memorial project or foundation. 'Though her time on Earth was brief, her spirit made a lasting impression on everyone who knew her,' the Hanna family says. Wynne Naylor's family has established a fund with the Dallas Foundation that aims to establish a 'legacy of love of community, love of the outdoors, and love of God'. The foundations as not disclosed the amount of donations that have been contributed to the More Like Wynne fund. The grim effort of searching for victims killed in the floods continues across Texas on Friday, with the areas that disappeared underwater years away from recovery. But the families of those little girls killed who've set up foundations in their daughters' honor have been widely hailed for doing something positive amidst the darkness and despair. Locals hope the new charities will help make sure the victims they're named after are always remembered, while making life better for future young residents and visitors to the valley.
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Entire cabin of Camp Mystic girls and counselors swept away in floods
By A heartbreaking photo shows an entire cabin of Camp Mystic girls and counselors who were washed away in the horrific Texas floods. The 13 girls and two counselors were staying in Camp Mystic's Bubble Inn cabin, which, alongside the Twins cabin, housed the youngest of the girls, aged 8 to 10. The cabins were less than 500 feet from the river and thus took in water from two directions, the Guadalupe river and a creek nearby, making the girls' escape particularly challenging. His body was found in a black SUV alongside those of three girls he had tried to save, reported The Washington Post. Many of the girls in the cabins were unable to flee as the water rose 20 feet in just 90 minutes when the catastrophic floods hit on Friday morning. Camp Mystic confirmed Monday that at least 27 campers and counselors had died in the floods. 'We have been in communication with local and state authorities who are tirelessly deploying extensive resources to search for our missing girls,' the camp said in a statement posted on its website. 'We are deeply grateful for the outpouring of support from community, first responders, and officials at every level.' Families were allowed to look around the camp beginning Sunday morning. Pictured: Eloise Peck (right) was sharing a cabin with Lila Bonner (left) when they were killed in the flooding. One girl was seen walking out of a building ringing a large bell in an attempt to find survivors, while a man whose daughter was rescued from a cabin on the highest point in the camp walked the riverbank looking in clumps of trees and under big rocks. A teenage girl had tears running down her face as they slowly drove away and she gazed through the open window at the wreckage. Across the state, the floods killed at least 82 people. Governor Greg Abbott said Sunday that a further 41 people confirmed to be unaccounted for across the state and more could be missing. In Kerr County, home to youth camps in the Texas Hill Country, searchers have found the bodies of 68 people, including 28 children, Sheriff Larry Leitha said Sunday afternoon. Rescuers have continued maneuvering through challenging terrain filled with snakes as they look for the missing. The devastation along the Guadalupe River, outside of San Antonio, has drawn a massive search effort as officials face questions over their preparedness and the speed of their initial actions. Beyond the Camp Mystic campers unaccounted for, the number of missing from other nearby campgrounds and across the region had not been released. 'We don't even want to begin to estimate at this time,' Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said Saturday, citing the likely influx of visitors during the July Fourth holiday.
Scottish Sun
07-07-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Heartbreaking vids show kids having fun at Camp Mystic – before singing through sobs & tears as they flee deadly floods
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) HEARTBREAKING video shows girls having fun at Camp Mystic just days before flooding would tragically kill five. Dozens were evacuated after the disaster with video filmed by a nurse catching them singing through tears fleeing the deadly floods on a bus. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 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 Guadalupe River in central Texas. 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. But hours later they would be evacuated in the horrific tragedy. The Guadalupe River rose 26ft in just 45 minutes after heavy rain hit central Texas at around 4am on Friday. 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. 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. 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 Rescuers are now scouring the devastated landscape as they search for survivors. 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. "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 Her mom, Missy Peck, told Fox4: 'Eloise was literally friends with everyone. She loved spaghetti but not more than she loved 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. 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.
CBS News
06-07-2025
- CBS News
2 Dallas girls killed in flooding at Camp Mystic, families say
Two North Texas girls missing from Camp Mystic in the wake of catastrophic Central Texas flooding have been confirmed dead: Lila Bonner, 9, and Eloise Peck, 8, CBS News Texas confirmed Sunday. A sign posted outside the home of 8-year-old Eloise Peck stated that "she lost her life in the tragic flooding." The family asked for privacy to mourn. Bonner's family confirmed on Saturday that she was among the children who had died in the flood. Bonner and Peck were two of the three girls from Dallas — the other being 8-year-old Hadley Hanna — who were among a group of missing Camp Mystic campers, unaccounted for following the flash floods that swept through Kerr County early Friday. Eloise Peck (left) and Lila Bonner, 9, both of Dallas (right), have been confirmed dead after being reported missing from Camp Mystic following the Central Texas flash floods. During a news conference on Sunday, Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at least 10 Camp Mystic campers were still missing, along with one counselor. It was the first solid number officials have provided regarding campers who remain unaccounted for, after estimating Saturday that it could be as high as 27. There were about 750 children at Camp Mystic when the floods hit, the sheriff said earlier. Hadley Hanna is among those still missing. Dallas sisters among the dozens killed in Central Texas flooding Two sisters from Dallas - 13-year-old Blair Harber and 11-year-old Brooke Harber - were among the dozens of lives lost in the catastrophic floods that swept through Central Texas early Friday. Their deaths were confirmed Saturday by St. Rita Catholic Community. Blair was preparing to enter eighth grade, and Brooke was set to begin sixth grade at St. Rita Catholic School. The sisters were not attending Camp Mystic, but were in the area when the flooding occurred. Dozens dead, many still missing As of Sunday afternoon, at least 79 have died and at least 41 more are missing, according to officials, following the devastating flash floods that slammed the Texas Hill Country. Rescue operations remain ongoing across the area. Authorities caution that not all of the campers are confirmed missing — some may be unreachable due to storm-related communication outages — but the uncertainty has left families anxiously awaiting updates. According to the camp's website, children become eligible to attend Camp Mystic, located in Hunt, Texas, along the Guadalupe River, after completing the second grade. Trump signs federal disaster declaration for Kerr County President Trump signed a major disaster declaration for Kerr County on Sunday morning, at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's request. On Saturday, Abbott said he visited the summer camp for the first time, calling the scene "horrendously ravaged" in a social media post. Abbott encouraged all Texans to pause in reflection and prayer Sunday, and to also "seek God's wisdom, peace, and mercy in this time of need for so many Texas families." Large-scale response underway In response, authorities have launched a large-scale search effort, deploying helicopters, Texas game wardens, and specialized rescue teams. Several children have already been rescued from trees and other stranded locations. Rescuers scoured flooded riverbanks littered with mangled trees Saturday and turned over rocks in the search for more than two dozen children from a girls' camp and many others missing after a wall of water blasted down a river in the Texas Hill Country. Col. Freeman Martin with the Texas Department of Public Safety said there are still unidentified victims at funeral homes, including adults and children.
Daily Mirror
06-07-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mirror
All girls killed in horror floods pictured as time running out for missing kids
At least 70 people, 21 of whom are children, have died in the horrendous flash floods in Texas, with many victims being young girls swept away from the Camp Mystic holiday camp Flash floods swept through Texas on Friday, killing at least 70 people as the US was celebrating Independence Day. The Guadalupe River surged by 30ft above its typical level with racing watering destroying Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp in Hunt. Several young girls remain missing as a huge rescue effort continues to find those still unaccounted for. Many of the missing girls are younger children who had been sleeping just yards away from the river. They had been sleeping on the low-laying "flats" in the camp's cabins, with the older girls sleeping in cabins on higher grounds. The director of the camp, Richard Eastland, 70, died as he tried to save girls. US President Donald Trump said those affected by the floods were "enduring an unimaginable tragedy." Rescuers reportedly managed to locate two girls who took shelter in a tree, some 30ft up from the ground. They were found as the search effort continues, though time is running out. Authorities insist it is still a rescue operation. Sarah Marsh, 8 Sarah Marsh arrived at Camp Mystic from her home in Alabama and was confirmed by her family to have died in the floods. Her grandmother told The Kerrville Daily Times: "Thank you for the outpouring of love and sympathy! We will always feel blessed to have had this beautiful spunky ray of light in our lives." Eloise Peck, 8, and Lila Bonner, 9 Eloise Peck, from Dallas, Texas, had just finished the second grade at Bradfield Elementary alongside her best friend Lili, who also lost her life in the flood. Her mum, Missy, old Fox 4: "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." Lila Bonner had been sharing a cabin at Camp Mystic with her best friend Eloise Peck when the deadly floods hit. Her family told NBC News: "In the midst of our unimaginable grief, we ask for privacy and are unable to confirm any details at this time. We ache with all who loved her and are praying endlessly for others to be spared from this tragic loss." Renee Smajstrla, 8 The family of little Renee confirmed in a Facebook post that she was among the victims. Shawn Salta, her uncle, said: "We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday. She will forever be living her best life at Camp Mystic." Janie Hunt, 9 The mum of Janie Hunt told local media that the nine-year-old had been killed after flood water raced through Camp Mystic. She told NBC 5: "We are just devastated." Brooke Harber, 11, and Blair Harber, 13 Brooke Harber was confirmed to have died on July 4, according to her priest Father Joshua J. Whitfield. He said: "Even if we may never fully understand why such tragedies happen, we are called to respond with love, compassion, and prayer." Blair was also killed in the floods with their grandparents while they stayed at a cabin near the Guadalupe River. The girls' parents had been staying at another cabin and are safe. Still missing There are a number of other young girls still missing who's names have not yet emerged. Further risks remain Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott said today Kerr County is under a federal disaster declaration. Mr Abbott repeated his warning about dangers in the next 24 to 48 hours that could pose "public safety threats", with more heavy rain expected. Officials said this could result in even more flash flooding. Affected areas include central Texas and Kerrville. Several other counties in Texas are subject to disaster declaration and need additional resources. Emergency services are working to find the remaining missing people who remain unaccounted for.
