The city will hold a procession Sunday for Aidan Heartfield, the final Beaumont resident recovered after Texas Hill Country flooding.💔🙏
BEAUMONT, Texas — The Beaumont community gathered today to welcome home Aidan Heartfield, the final Beaumont resident recovered following tragic flooding in Kerr County.
Heartfield was escorted into Beaumont on his final journey home. The procession entered on Highway 90, continued down 11th Street, Calder Avenue and Fourth Street before arriving at Broussard’s on McFaddin after 5 p.m., according to Beaumont Police Department Public Information Office Haley Morrow.
The community was encouraged to line the procession route, particularly along Calder Avenue, to show support for Heartfield and his family.
Officials asked the public to respect the family’s privacy once the procession reached Broussard’s
Heartfield’s body was found by search teams after being missing for a week following the deadly Texas Hill Country flooding.
The 22-year-old had been missing after July 4th weekend floods in the Texas Hill Country swept away him and several friends.
Heartfield’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 Heartfield’s friends Ella Cahill, Reese Manchaca and Joyce Badon who were staying at a residence in Hunt when floodwaters struck.
The tragedy began with an early morning phone call during the July 4th weekend when rising waters threatened the home where Heartfield 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 said.
Thad Heartfield said 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.”
The recovery allows the family to begin grieving, start the healing process and bring their son home, the family told 12News.
Officer Morrow posted constant location updates once they reached Houston.
“Let us stand together to honor Aidan’s life and surround his family with compassion, strength, and love during this time of unimaginable loss,” Officer Morrow said.
This is a developing story. We will update with more if and when we receive more confirmed information.