(Independent Sentinel)—The sole confirmed survivor of a family of six is recuperating in a hospital after five of her family members lost their lives in the Guadalupe River.
It was 4 am and Devyn Smith who’s 22-years-old, was in a tent with her family. They were camping near the Guadalupe River in Texas. The rain was pummeling their tent and it was loud. The water came in and started rising quickly. That’s when their tent started floating away. They made a soaking run for their truck as lightening briefly illuminated the way. But the vehicle got swept away. They couldn’t outrun the icy floodwaters.
She told a story of climbing through the sunroof.
Suddenly Devyn was knocked off her feet and was headed downstream fast, trying to keep her head above water. In the dark. In shock. Spinning. Submerged. Gasping. Devyn was tossed around like a rag doll for about 20 miles, kicking away refrigerators, dodging recreational vehicles and careening over 4 dams! Finally, she found one solid tree branch and grabbed it. She climbed higher through rushing water, wind, and fear, screaming for help. But no one heard over the bellowing river water. She kept yelling and held on for what seemed like an eternity.
Eight hours holding on to a tree over a raging river.
Eight hours went by until finally a homeowner named Carl Jeter stepped out on his deck and heard a faint cry for help. He looked around and didn’t see anyone. But the cries continued. That’s when he looked way across the river and up in a Cypress tree he saw her. He moved closer and started calling back to her, “I hear you, I see you!”
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