Miraculous Survival: Woman Clings to Tree as Deadly Flood Claims 27 Lives

Imagine being swept away by a raging flood, dodging everything from rogue fridges to… recreational vehicles, all while desperately clinging to a tree for your life. Sounds like something out of a wild survival flick, right? Well, that’s exactly what happened to a young woman during the catastrophic flash floods that tore through Kerr County, Texas, over the recent Fourth of July weekend. With at least 27 lives lost—including nine children—and dozens still unaccounted for, the disaster’s scale is gut-wrenching. Yet amid the chaos, this incredible story of grit and sheer willpower shines through—a 22-year-old who was swept 20 miles downriver but managed to survive by treading water and ultimately climbing to safety in a tree, screaming for help until rescuers found her. It’s one of those moments that make you wonder: how in the world does someone pull off a miracle like that? Sometimes, life’s wildest tales outdo any blockbuster script. LEARN MORE

An incredible photo shows how a young woman was able to survive the terrifying Texas floods by clinging to a tree.

Yesterday (4 July) devastating flash floods swept through Kerr County in Texas, with casualties including girls attending a nearby summer camp in the area.

At the time of writing, at least 27 people are confirmed to have died in the floods, – nine of which are children – with rescuers frantically searching for the dozens of people still missing.

Authorities are not able to confirm exactly how many people are missing at the moment, however, there were around 27 girls who were in attendance at Camp Mystic along the banks of the Guadalupe River that are yet to be found.

Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick has since stated the unaccounted for individuals may not be missing but instead unable to get in contact with loved ones.

Flash foods have devastated Texas over the 4 July weekend (RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP)

As rescues attempts continue, hopes of residents in the central Texas area where boosted after it was confirmed that a woman had survived being swept away by clinging to a tree.

According to a report from local news outlet KENS5, the unnamed 22-year-old woman had entered the floodwater near the town of Ingram, before being swept 20 miles downriver to the community of Center Point.

According to the report, the young woman was able to survive by treading water throughout the treacherous path, which included numerous dams and dodging items such as fridges and ‘recreational vehicles‘, before climbing into the tree.

The woman was able to alert nearby residents to her situation after climbing up the tree and screaming for help, which alerted a man in a nearby house.

It’s understood the woman had been sheltering in the tree for several hours by the time locals were aware of her presence, as she’d been swept away by the floods in the early hours of the morning.

The moment the woman was rescued by authorities (KENS5)

Rescuers were eventually able to get to the woman in the tree, and brought into the house of local residents to shelter, where she was checked over for any injuries.

The family who rescued the rescued the young woman were also interviewed by the outlet, confirming that she had since been reunited with relatives, however, several of her family members are still missing in the floods.

It’s currently unclear if the rest of the family, who attempted to flee the floods in their car survived.

“It’s a true miracle, there’s no other way to explain it,” the local resident, who was identified as Carl, told reporters.

“There’s no way you survive that trip… I don’t know how she did it.”