In a heartbreaking and chilling moment, Joyce Badon, 21, sent a final, desperate text message to her family just before the house she and her friends were staying in was engulfed by the devastating floods in Texas. The message read: “we’re being washed away,” before her phone went silent. Joyce, along with three friends, was caught in the flood’s unforgiving grip on July 4, 2025. As crews continue the search for her and others, the haunting reality of the floods’ destruction looms large. What happened in those final moments, and what’s next in the search for those still missing? Read on to uncover the emotional story of survival, loss, and the relentless pursuit of hope. 👇👇

Joyce Badon has not been seen since being washed away(Image: FOX4)

<p “=”” =”paragraph_paragraph-text__pvklh=””>A 21-year-old sent a final text message to her family before the house she was in was washed away. She has not yet been found following the horrific floods in Texas.<p “=”” =”paragraph_paragraph-text__pvklh=””>Crews are trudging through debris and wading into swollen riverbanks again today in the search for victims of the catastrophic flooding over the July Fourth weekend which killed at least 89 people, including more than two dozen campers and counsellors from an all-girls Christian camp. With more rain on the way, the risk of more flooding is still high in saturated parts of central Texas. Authorities said the death toll was sure to rise as crews looked for the many people who were still missing.

Ella Cahill is among the group who is missing(Image: FOX4)

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<p “=”” =”paragraph_paragraph-text__pvklh=””>And among those who have not been found is Joyce Badon, 21, who pleaded for help from a house along the Guadalupe River which burst its banks. Louis Deppe is leading volunteers who are trying to help her family find her daughter, who had been staying with three friends Ella Cahill, Reese Manchaca and Aiden Heartfield. They went to spend the July 4 holiday together at a country house.

Reese Manchaca was in the group of four (Image: FOX4)

<p “=”” =”paragraph_paragraph-text__pvklh=””>“Their house collapsed at about 4 in the morning and they were being washed away. On her cellphone, the last message (her family) got was ‘we’re being washed away’ and the phone went dead,” Mr Deppe told AFP.We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info

<p “=”” =”paragraph_paragraph-text__pvklh=””>Volunteers are working through debris. Mr Deppe told of one body being found around 10ft up a tree. Tina Hambly, 55, the mum of a friend of Joyce, is also involved in the search.

A massive search is underway with Aiden Heartfield also missing(Image: FOX)

<p “=”” =”paragraph_paragraph-text__pvklh=””>“We’re doing a seven-mile stretch, and there’s seven teams and we’re doing a mile apiece, so just kind of dividing and conquering, trying to find any four of them or anyone,” said Ms Hambly. “But, you know, we are friends and families and frankly, some strangers have shown up.”

Debris left from the flooding(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

<p “=”” =”paragraph_paragraph-text__pvklh=””>Joyce’s dad Ty Badon is also looking for the missing group. “It’s been four o’clock yesterday morning that we were told that they were on the phone with Aidan’s dad, who they own the house where they were,” Ty told CNN on Saturday, adding that the house “is no longer there.”<p “=”” =”paragraph_paragraph-text__pvklh=””>“Aidan said, ‘Hey I’ve got to go, I’ve got to help Ella and Reese… they just got washed away,’ and then a few seconds later the phone just went dead, and that’s all we know,” the 21-year-old’s father said, recalling his last contact with the group.

A desperate search is continuing for missing people(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

<p “=”” =”paragraph_paragraph-text__pvklh=””>“We pray that all four of them are still alive,” Ty continued, sharing that authorities presume all four young adults were washed away in the flood. “All four are missing. They’re still missing.”<p “=”” =”paragraph_paragraph-text__pvklh=””>Tragically while searching Mr Badon said they found the body of a young boy. “My son and I were walking and I thought it was a mannequin. It was a little boy, eight or 10 years old, and he was dead,” he said. “We were just walking, doing the same thing we were doing when we stumbled across him. Hopefully we can find our children, my daughter and her friends alive.”