Four-year-old boy is swept to his death in Texas floods after becoming stuck in ... trends now
A Texas mother has described the devastating moment her four-year-old son was swept away from her in the torrential floods ravaging the state.
Chelsey and Aaron Warren lost Lucas, their only child, after their car became stuck in rainwater on their way home from a friend's house in the early hours of Sunday.
The family of three had been driving home on County Road 528 in Burleson, near Fort Worth - an area which has been ravaged by the catastrophic storms.
Chelsey said their car began filling up with water so she grabbed hold of Lucas and the three attempted to flee on foot when tragedy struck.
'The current came up real high and he just let go,' she told NBC5. 'I didn't hear anything from him, I think he just went under.'
A Texas mother has described the devastating moment her four-year-old son Lucas Warren (pictured) was swept away from her in floodwaters before he died early Sunday morning
His mother Chelsey Warren (pictured) said their car began filling up with water so she grabbed hold of Lucas and the three attempted to flee on foot when tragedy struck
Channelview Fire Department and sheriffs get ready to help evacuate the area due to severe flooding, Saturday, May 4, 2024, in Channelview, Texas
Chelsey said they were familiar with County Road 528, which is prone to flooding - but officials normally close it off when water levels become too high.
'Usually, there's a block in the road that says don't pass through there or has a sign that says flooding water, please turn around, and there was nothing,' she said. 'I had saw somebody else had gone through.'
As they tried to plough their vehicle through the water, the car cut out and they quickly became trapped amid the natural disaster.
'My car battery died, and then the car started filling up with water, so we grabbed Lucas out of his car seat,' Chelsey said.
The devastated mother added that they tried to escape on foot but they were swept off the road.
Her husband became separated from them and she trod water while desperately holding on to Lucas for more than an hour.
It was at this point that the current surged and they were torn apart.
Chelsey said Johnson County rescuers arrived in a boat minutes later and took her to hospital before launching a search for her son.
The Johnson County Office of Emergency Management confirmed Chelsey and Aaron were taken to a local hospital at about 5am. Hours later, at 7.20am, responders found Lucas dead in the water.
Chelsey said the sheriff broke the horrific news to her while she was in hospital, telling her Lucas 'looked really peaceful and that all of his clothes weren't ripped'.
'He looks like he just went to sleep,' she told NBC5.
