Aidan Heartfield’s body was found by search teams after being missing for over a week following deadly Texas Hill Country flooding.
HUNT, Texas — The family of Aidan Heartfield confirmed his body was found after searching for more than a week following the devastating Texas Hill Country floods.
The 22-year-old had been missing after the July 4th weekend floods in the Texas Hill Country swept away him and several friends.
Aidan’s father, Thad Heartfield, said they received a call from a trooper who is part of the team collecting DNA from families.
The family had been coordinating search efforts since the flooding occurred. Search teams successfully recovered the bodies of three of Aidan’s friends, Ella Cahill, Reese Manchaca and Joyce Badon, who were staying at the family’s home when floodwaters struck.
The tragedy began with an early morning phone call during the July 4th weekend when rising waters threatened the home where Aidan was staying with friends.
“Aiden did call me at 4 a.m. to let me know that there was water in the house. By the time they got out on the porch, they saw the cars wash away. Unfortunately, they were swept away by the water,” Thad Heartfield, Aidan’s father, said.
Thad Heartfield said that a volunteer search operation had established headquarters at a home dubbed “Fort Fleming,” where they met before continuing the search.
“We’ve been here since the Fourth of July and have successfully recovered the body of three of his friends who were staying at our home,” Heartfield said.
“This disaster has ripple effects that are reaching every corner of Texas, and people need help everywhere,” the family said. “Folks are displaced from their homes and need support.”
Heartfield described his son as the youngest in the family and “a very kind and gentle soul.”
This brings them to a point where they can begin to grieve, start the healing process, and bring their son home, the family told 12News
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.