Texas Camp Flood: Youngest Children Feared Dead in Cottage Tragedy

The cottage closest to the river took in water from two directions. Here, in bunk beds made with pink sheets, slept the youngest children of the summer camp. All 13 girls in the cottage are feared to have perished when the weekend's downpour over Texas created a death trap.

» Published: July 07 2025 at 13:23

Texas Camp Flood: Youngest Children Feared Dead in Cottage Tragedy
Photo: Jim Vondruska/AFP/TT

Share this article

Colorful summer clothes, photos, plastic sandals. Stuffed animals loved enough to have been allowed to come along to the summer camp. Everything is wet and covered in mud, thrown out haphazardly.

The images from Bubble Inn, Camp Mystic's most lake-adjacent cabin, bear witness to the flood's young victims.

When the water began to rise in the middle of the night, camp director Dick Eastland tried to save the girls in the cabin. But everything went too fast – in just 45 minutes, the Guadalupe River had risen almost eight meters. Eastland was found dead in a car along with three deceased girls.

Beloved animals

In a photo taken a few days earlier, 13 happy girls in gym shoes and white clothes, between eight and nine years old, are seen. "Bubble Inn 2025", reads a text in yellow and green. Ahead of them lay four camp weeks, long summer days with newly made friends. Of the girls in the picture, twelve have so far been found dead, one is still missing.

In American media, the confirmations have come one by one. Eloise Peck, an eight-year-old who "loved spaghetti but not more than she loved dogs and animals", according to the family's statement to Fox 4. Best friend Lila Bonner, 9. Eight-year-old Sarah Marsh, nine-year-old Janie Hunt. Renee Smajstrla, 9, whose family expresses gratitude that their daughter's last days were filled with happiness and friendship.

"She will forever live her best life at Camp Mystic", they write on social media.

Also, the two leaders of the youngest group, 18 and 19 years old, perished.

Searched in vain

Michael McCown dropped everything and drove to the camp in Kerr from his home in Austin when he heard about the downpour, writes The Washington Post in a report. A few days earlier, he had hugged his eight-year-old daughter Linnie goodbye outside Bubble Inn. The girls were singing and making faces in their bunk beds.

She's out there somewhere with all her friends, said McCown a few hours after the disaster, walking along the riverbank.

He didn't find Linnie, but another lifeless little body that was soon picked up by a helicopter. Another father approached as if in a daze, showed McCown a photo – "did the girl you found look like this?"

McCown shook his head. The other man walked on without a word.

Linnie McCown was found dead on Sunday, according to The Washington Post.

Loading related articles...

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Iran's President Claims Israel Attempted Assassination
2 MIN READ

Iran's President Claims Israel Attempted Assassination

Houthi Rebels Admit Red Sea Ship Attack Near Yemen's al-Hudaydah
2 MIN READ

Houthi Rebels Admit Red Sea Ship Attack Near Yemen's al-Hudaydah

Dismissed Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovojt Found Dead
1 MIN READ

Dismissed Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovojt Found Dead

Texas Floods: Hydrologist Explains Asphalt-Like Soil Impact
3 MIN READ

Texas Floods: Hydrologist Explains Asphalt-Like Soil Impact

Danish Court Issues First Human Exploitation Sentence
1 MIN READ

Danish Court Issues First Human Exploitation Sentence

Two Men Charged in Switzerland for Suspected Terrorist Links
1 MIN READ

Two Men Charged in Switzerland for Suspected Terrorist Links

Greek Workers Mandated Cooling Breaks Amid Heat Wave
1 MIN READ

Greek Workers Mandated Cooling Breaks Amid Heat Wave

Hundreds of Migrants Rescued at Sea Near Crete
1 MIN READ

Hundreds of Migrants Rescued at Sea Near Crete

Woman Dies After Bus Fire in Norway; Teen in Custody
1 MIN READ

Woman Dies After Bus Fire in Norway; Teen in Custody

Over 20 Killed in Kano Traffic Accident, Nigeria Authorities Report
1 MIN READ

Over 20 Killed in Kano Traffic Accident, Nigeria Authorities Report

Over 70 Dead in Pakistan Floods After Heavy Rainfall
1 MIN READ

Over 70 Dead in Pakistan Floods After Heavy Rainfall

Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi Predicts Imminent Overthrow of Iranian Regime
5 MIN READ

Nobel Laureate Shirin Ebadi Predicts Imminent Overthrow of Iranian Regime

Hundreds of Thousands of Afghans Return from Iran This Year
1 MIN READ

Hundreds of Thousands of Afghans Return from Iran This Year

EU Unveils Plan for Nature Investment Through Nature Credits
1 MIN READ

EU Unveils Plan for Nature Investment Through Nature Credits

82 Dead in Texas Floods; Ongoing Risk of More Flooding
2 MIN READ

82 Dead in Texas Floods; Ongoing Risk of More Flooding

Armed Clans Rise as Hamas Loses Control in Gaza Strip
1 MIN READ

Armed Clans Rise as Hamas Loses Control in Gaza Strip

Ceasefire Talks Between Israel and Hamas Continue in Doha Today
2 MIN READ

Ceasefire Talks Between Israel and Hamas Continue in Doha Today

Australian Woman Sentenced for Murdering Ex-In-Laws with Poisonous Mushrooms
1 MIN READ

Australian Woman Sentenced for Murdering Ex-In-Laws with Poisonous Mushrooms

Thieves Steal Luxury Bags Worth 11 Million Kronor in Paris Store Heist
1 MIN READ

Thieves Steal Luxury Bags Worth 11 Million Kronor in Paris Store Heist

Russian Attacks on Ukraine Leave Several Dead Overnight
1 MIN READ

Russian Attacks on Ukraine Leave Several Dead Overnight