In the early hours of July 4, as raging floodwaters swept through Ingram, Texas, one man made an impossible decision that only a true hero could. Julian Ryan, a 27-year-old father of two, sacrificed his life so his fiancée, children, and mother could live. And in his final breath, he left them with the words no family should ever have to hear — but ones they will never forget: “I’m sorry, I’m not going to make it. I love y’all.”
The flooding, caused by torrential overnight rains that sent the Guadalupe River surging more than 30 feet above normal, came with little warning. Within minutes, Julian and Christinia Wilson’s home was underwater. “It just started pouring in,” Wilson said. “We had to fight the door to get it closed… it reached knee-level in 20 minutes.” The rising water left them with no choice but to flee.
In a desperate act of courage, Julian shattered a window with his bare hands to help his fiancée, their children, and his mother escape. The glass severed a major artery, nearly costing him his arm in the process. But Julian didn’t stop. Bleeding and in pain, he helped get everyone to the roof — out of reach of the flood’s fury.
Rescue teams couldn’t arrive in time. With his family huddled safely above, Julian collapsed from blood loss. By sunrise, he was gone.
“He had lost all of it… all of his blood,” Wilson said through tears. “He looked at me, the kids, and his mother and said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m not going to make it. I love y’all.’” His body was recovered once the water began to recede.
Julian’s sister, Connie Salas, called him “a hero who died saving the people he loved most.” And in the community of Ingram — where neighbors are now holding vigils and sharing stories — his sacrifice has become a symbol of unmatched bravery. “He’s the kindest person I’ve ever met in my life,” said Kris Roberts, a close friend. “I’ll forever love him no matter what.”
As the family mourns, they’re also raising their voices for change. They believe earlier warnings — like flood sirens — could have saved lives. “If we’d heard a siren, we would’ve left,” Wilson said. “We had so many safe places to go.”
The Ryans, like so many others affected by the flooding, are trying to rebuild from the devastation. A GoFundMe has been launched to help with funeral expenses and support Christinia and the children. “Julian gave his life for his family,” the page reads. “While we’re eternally grateful for his sacrifice, we’re shattered by our loss.”
The flood, one of the deadliest in recent Texas history, has now claimed at least 51 lives. Among them, 27 girls who went missing at Camp Mystic, a beloved summer retreat along the river. As of Saturday, nine campers have been confirmed dead. The youngest victims include Renee Smajstrla (8), Janie Hunt (9), and Sarah Marsh, who all perished in their sleep when floodwaters tore through their cabins.
Search and rescue crews remain on high alert. “Our primary focus is on the search and rescue of every single person involved,” said Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice. “We’re in a marathon… and we’ve got to make sure we always keep that in mind – and look after each other.”
Julian Ryan didn’t wait for help. He became the help. He didn’t ask to be a hero. But when the moment came, he became one without hesitation. And in a storm that took so much, his love stood stronger than the water — a final act of sacrifice that will never be forgotten.
