Dick Eastland, the camp director and co-owner of Camp Mystic in Hunt, Texas, died during severe flooding while attempting to rescue campers. Eastland, who had owned the camp since 1974, was reportedly swept away by a surge of water that engulfed the Christian summer camp located along the Guadalupe River. His death was confirmed through a Facebook post from his nephew, which has since been removed.
The flooding event has been catastrophic, affecting around 750 attendees at the camp. As of the latest updates, over a dozen campers have been confirmed dead, with additional individuals, including one counselor and eleven campers, still unaccounted for. The death toll from the flooding across Central Texas has risen to approximately 70, with reports of fatalities in multiple counties.
Eastland was remembered fondly by former campers, counselors, and local politicians. Representative August Pfluger of Texas highlighted Eastland’s lifelong commitment to nurturing young women at the camp, noting that two of his daughters were present during the flooding and have since been reunited with their family. Former camper Paige Sumner described Eastland as a father figure, emphasizing that his final act of kindness was consistent with his character.
Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha provided updates during a recent press conference, detailing the ongoing search efforts for those missing and the scale of the tragedy affecting the community. The situation remains fluid as rescue efforts continue in the aftermath of the devastating floods.