Family shares last photo of 8-year-old Camp Mystic victim with heartfelt note after Texas flood tragedy

KERR COUNTY, TEXAS: The family of 8-year-old Renee Smajstrla has shared the last photo she was in after she was confirmed as one of the victims of the catastrophic flash floods that tore through a summer camp in Kerr County, Texas.

Renee was one of nine children killed at Camp Mystic when the Guadalupe River rose a staggering 26 feet in just 45 minutes.

On Friday, July 4 devastating flash floods tore through the Christian sleep-away camp for girls aged 7 to 17, sweeping away between 23 and 25 campers. The powerful surge of water hit during the night, destroying parts of the camp, including several cabins where the girls had been sleeping.

Family of 8-year-old who died at summer camp after Texas floods pays tribute

Renee Smajstrla’s family has publicly mourned the loss of their 8-year-old daughter, who tragically died in the flash floods that struck a Texas summer camp.

In an emotional social media post, her uncle, Shawn Salta, confirmed her death and shared a final photo of Renee, taken just hours before the disaster. The picture shows her smiling brightly, dressed in pink, sitting on the steps at Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian summer camp where she had spent her last day.

Salta wrote. "We are thankful she was with her friends and having the time of her life, as evidenced by this picture from yesterday,"

He also thanked the community for their support, noting that the widespread social media outreach may have played a role in helping first responders identify Renee more quickly.

He shared, "While not the outcome we prayed for, the social media outreach likely assisted the first responders in helping to identify her so quickly."

Earlier that day, while Renee was still missing, her aunt Michelle had turned to the public for help, describing “a long day of worry and prayer” as the family clung to hope that she would return home "safe and sound."

9-year-old girl dies at summer camp as police vow to continue searching for every missing person

Nine-year-old Janie Hunt has been confirmed as one of the young victims of the devastating Texas floods. Her mother, Anne, shared the heartbreaking news with CNN, revealing she had been praying” for her daughter’s safe return.

Janie was among the many children attending a summer camp when flash floods struck, leaving more than 25 girls still unaccounted for. In addition, an undetermined number of residents from surrounding areas remain missing.

Most of the campers were evacuated to higher ground, where rescuers were able to reach them. Thirteen-year-old Elinor Lester, one of the survivors, described the chaos, telling that “the camp was completely destroyed.”

She recalled being woken up just after midnight as rescue teams entered her cabin, tying the children together with ropes and guiding them across a bridge while floodwaters swirled around their legs. “A helicopter landed and started taking people away. It was really scary,” she said.

Authorities have issued multiple flash flood warnings, with heavy rainfall still threatening the region. Kerrville City Manager Dalton Rice said the exact number of missing individuals remains uncertain. “We do not have an accurate count, and we don’t even want to begin to estimate at this time,” he stated.

Despite the uncertainty, rescue efforts continue with urgency. Officials reported that more than 850 residents have already been safely evacuated. As of Saturday, flash flood alerts remain active in Central Travis County until 2 p.m. CDT. “We will not stop until every single person is found,” vowed the County Sheriff, "I can't tell you how long it's going to take."

Over 1,000 personnel, including helicopter crews, specialized swimmers, drones, and military vehicles, have been deployed in a massive search for any remaining survivors.