MIRACLE IN TEXAS: K9 Hero Finds Girl Swept 32km by Floodwaters

What began as a week of summer fun turned into a nightmare—and then a miracle—at Mystic River Camp in Central Texas.

Twelve-year-old Ava Ramirez vanished during a flash flood that hit the camp overnight, swept away by fast-moving waters. For over 24 hours, her fate was unknown. Drones, boats, and helicopters searched, but it was a heroic K9 named Valor who made the impossible discovery.

At 5:42 PM the next day, Valor, a Belgian Malinois with the Travis County Sheriff’s Office, stopped in the brush—and barked. That single bark led rescuers to Ava, clinging to a log, cold and silent—but alive.

Bodycam footage shows the emotional moment she was rescued, wrapped in a thermal blanket as Valor sat beside her, his tail wagging. One officer said, “She wasn’t just holding on to a tree—she was holding on to life.”

Ava is recovering from dehydration and hypothermia and is expected to be okay. Her family credits her strength—and Valor’s instinct—for saving her life.

Now a national hero, Valor will be honored at the National Hero Dog Awards. The story has gone viral, with millions praising the bravery of a little girl—and the dog who refused to give up on her.