A camping trip turned into a nightmare for Tina Perry, who survived the deadly Texas Hill Country floods by clinging to a tree for five hours, as rescuers continue searching for her missing husband.
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A League City woman’s unwavering spirit in the face of devastating flash floods in the Texas Hill Country has emerged as a powerful testament to human strength, as efforts persist to locate her husband, who was carried off by the surging waters.
Tina Perry, who was in Kerrville with her husband Brad for a camping trip at HTR TX Hill Country RV Park & Campground, faced a life-threatening situation when floodwaters rapidly rose early Friday, devastating the region. A couple's new RV was carried off, and both were dragged into the tumultuous waters of the Guadalupe River.
In the midst of the chaos, Tina struggled to stay afloat, grasping onto whatever she could. “She declared, ‘I’m not going to die today,’” recalled Tina’s sister, Julia Schwenk Purnell.
Eventually, Tina managed to climb a tree about half a mile from the RV park, clinging to it for five hours while suspended 15 feet above the rising river in her pajamas. As the sun began to rise, Lauren Chevalier, a resident by the riverbank, was startled by desperate cries for help cutting through the tumult of the floodwaters.
Upon discovering that the individual in trouble was not a relative but a stranger, Chevalier promptly contacted emergency services and remained at the bank, urging Tina to persevere until help arrived.
A video released by Purnell captures the moment first responders assist Tina, who is barefoot and covered in debris, to safety. Chevalier welcomed her with a towel, a heartfelt moment that Tina’s family described as angelic.
Tina is on the mend at Kerrville’s Peterson Regional Medical Center, showing a thumbs-up in a family-shared photo, despite enduring hypothermia, scratches, bruises, a punctured lung, and a torn lip. She is anticipated to be released on Monday.
The hunt is ongoing for Brad Perry, who previously served as a volunteer firefighter in League City. Relatives have submitted DNA samples and tattoo images to the authorities, and they are collaborating with rescue teams.
Purnell attributes Tina’s remarkable resilience to her upbringing in the frigid waters of Erie, Pennsylvania. “That Pennsylvania blood in you was your lifeline,” she remarked to her sister. “She’s a warrior.”
The tragedy highlights the severe risks posed by the unprecedented floods that have taken numerous lives throughout Central Texas, leaving families anxiously seeking information about their missing loved ones while rescue operations are ongoing.
