A young girl was rescued alive after floating on a mattress for nearly three hours amid severe flooding in Central Texas, U.S. Representative Chip Roy confirmed today. The girl was carried by swift floodwaters along the Guadalupe River before being discovered and pulled to safety by rescue teams.
Representative Roy, who has been actively monitoring relief efforts, described the girl’s rescue as miraculous. “PRAISE THE LORD,” he said in a social media post, noting that she was found safe alongside the mattress that kept her afloat for hours.
The incident occurred in the same catastrophic flood event that has devastated Kerr County and surrounding areas, where authorities report at least 43 deaths—including 15 children—with dozens more still missing. Floodwaters rose suddenly, inundating neighborhoods, camps, and roads as rivers surged up to 29 feet, sweeping away homes and vehicles.
Statewide, over 850 people have already been rescued during this disaster, with teams from the Texas National Guard, local emergency services, and first responders deploying helicopters, boats, and drones to search devastated areas.
Following her rescue, the girl was reunited with her family. She is reportedly in stable condition and receiving medical attention. Officials continue urging residents to obey evacuation orders and avoid flood-affected areas as further rainfall is possible.
As search-and-rescue operations persist, this remarkable survival story stands out amid widespread tragedy and loss in the region.