Texas teen dies after rescuing family from submerged van as she’s swept away by floodwaters

MARBLE FALLS, TEXAS: In the early hours of July 5, 17-year-old Malaya Hammond became a symbol of extraordinary bravery when she helped her family escape from a van that was swept into raging floodwaters in central Texas.

Though she managed to help others reach safety, Malaya herself was tragically pulled under by the current. Her body was recovered three days later.

Teen hero sacrifices her life to save family during Texas flood disaster

The Hammond family was en route to a Christian summer camp when their van unknowingly drove onto a flooded Cow Creek Bridge. It was dark, visibility was low, and the water from heavy overnight rains had already transformed the creek into a deadly torrent.

Mikki Willis, a family friend who was in the van, told KVUE that Malaya was the one who acted quickly to open the door and assist her siblings and others in escaping the submerged vehicle. “Their van went over the cliff into the raging water, and it was Malaya who was the one that was able to get a car door open,” he said.

Everyone in the van initially escaped, but as they tried to reach the riverbank, Malaya was overtaken by the current. After three days of intense searching, authorities confirmed they had recovered the teenager’s body.

Willis shared that Hammond’s parents and her two younger siblings entered the river together to honor her memory. “The four of them went into the river to make peace with the water and to give thanks that they had found her and that they have closure.”

Malaya’s loved ones describe her as a guiding light within her family, the eldest sibling who led by example, full of quiet strength and deep faith. “The parents are amazing, but Malaya also set the standard as the oldest. So she was an incredible role model for her siblings,” Willis added.

School honors Malaya Hammond’s life

Tributes continue to pour in for 17-year-old Malaya Hammond, whose final act of bravery helped save her family. 

Her school issued a heartfelt message mourning her loss, saying, “We are so sad to share the news that Malaya Hammond has passed away.” the school wrote in a public post. “As we grieve, let us be encouraged by the words of Jesus, Malaya’s Savior and Friend, ‘I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.’ John 11:25.”

Supporters launched a GiveSendGo fundraising campaign to assist the Hammond family with funeral expenses and recovery costs. As of this week, the effort has raised over $136,000.

“We want to thank everyone so deeply for the outpouring of prayers and donations. This has made such a huge difference for the Hammond family in their time of grieving,” a family friend wrote on the campaign page.

According to NBC News, at least 120 people have been confirmed dead, and 173 others remain missing. The fatalities include 27 girls and counselors from Camp Mystic, an all-girls summer camp that was directly in the path of the floodwaters.