In a moment being hailed as one of the most extraordinary survival stories in U.S. history, three of the 27 girls missing after the Texas flood disaster were found alive Sunday afternoon — inside the hollow trunk of a massive oak tree, one mile from the devastated Camp Wrenwood.
Rescuers say the girls had taken shelter inside the ancient tree for nearly 10 days, surviving with only rainwater and their own instincts. Medical officials call it a miracle of endurance, faith, and sisterhood.
The Discovery: A Chance Path, a Faint Cry
Searchers weren’t even looking in that direction when a volunteer hiker heard a faint noise coming from the base of a collapsed tree. Thinking it was an animal, she cautiously approached — and instead heard a weak voice cry:
“We’re here… please don’t leave.”
Within minutes, emergency crews uncovered three young girls, aged 8–10, curled together inside a partially hollowed trunk, wrapped in wet towels and using a broken shoelace to secure the tree’s bark as a door flap.
How They Survived: The Two Crucial Secrets
Doctors confirm that Emily Rivera, Zoey Nash, and Hope Lin owed their incredible survival to two key factors:
1. Ingenious Rainwater Catchment
Using plastic wrappers from their lunch kits, the girls fashioned a V-shaped funnel at the base of the hollow tree to collect precious rainwater.
“They even drank from leaves and wrung their shirts to catch every drop,” explained Dr. Mia Lang, who helped with their medical care.
2. A Life-Saving Pre-Camp Safety Drill
Just days before the flood, camp counselors had conducted a wilderness shelter exercise—one the girls remembered well.
“They said they stuck to what they’d learned: ‘stay dry, stay together, stay quiet,’” shared a paramedic involved in the rescue.
Their Own Words: A Bond That Kept Them Alive
Though calm, the girls were deeply emotional, whispering over and over,
“We thought no one was coming… but we believed in each other.”
They spoke of their mothers to keep hope alive. Though scratched, dehydrated, and covered in insect bites, their injuries were not life-threatening.
The Nation Responds: “America’s Story of Hope”
As news spread, tears flowed freely at the family base camp, with one mother collapsing to her knees in relief. Across towns, church bells tolled while hashtags like #HollowTreeHeroes, #3StrongGirls, and #FaithFoundThem surged on social media.
“Ten days. No fire. No food. Just courage.”
“They saved each other. We will never forget these brave girls.”