MIAMI (WSVN) - Former publisher of the Miami Herald and founder of the Children’s Movement of Florida David Lawrence Jr. has tragically lost his two eight-year-old granddaughters in the Texas flash floods, authorities say.
Lawrence—an advocate for early childhood development programs, who made it part of his life’s mission to better the lives of children is now mourning the loss of his grandchildren, who were swept away in the raging waters.
“My mission is to make sure the children have the best possible chance of succeeding in school and in life,” he said.
Lawrence told the Herald on Sunday that eight-year-old twins girls Hanna and Rebecca were attending Camp Mystic in Kerr County along with their 14-year-old sister, Harper, when the unexpected intense down pour occurred. Only Harper would be found alive.
Their family, he says, now left with a joy the girls left that can never be forgotten.
At least 27 children and counselors from the camp are now confirmed to have died.
The camp releasing a statement Monday, saying in part, “Our hearts are broken alongside our families that are enduring this unimaginable tragedy.”
As the death toll continues to rise, so are the harrowing stories of survival and loss.
27-year-old Julian Ryan also lost his life on Friday near the Guadalupe River. He was a father, brother, fiancé and son.
“He died a hero and that will never go unnoticed, “said his mother.
“It just started pouring in and we had to fight the door to get it closed to make sure not too much got in. We went back to the room and started calling 911,” said Ryan’s fiancé Christinia Wilson.
Wilson said after 20 minutes the water was up to their knees.
Julian punched a hole in a window to try and get her, their children and his mother to the roof.
“It severed his artery in his arm and almost cut it clean off,” said Wilson.
Christinia sayid they kept calling 911 but no one came in time to save him.
“By 6:00 my husband was dead. He had lost all of his blood. He looked at me and the kids and my mother-in-law and said ‘I’m sorry I’m not going to make it I love y’all’, she said.
“He is the hero in this story,” said Ryan’s mom.
Officials said at least 10 girls and one camp counselor is still unaccounted. Authorities and volunteers in Texas have vowed to continue to search for the missing victims.
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