John Foster’s Heroic Journey: Walking 7 Miles Through Texas Floods to Deliver Baby Formula

On July 4, 2025, central Texas was ravaged by catastrophic flash floods, claiming over 120 lives and leaving thousands stranded. The Guadalupe River surged 26 feet in less than an hour, wiping out homes, camps, and entire communities in what became one of the deadliest floods in U.S. history. Amid this chaos, a story of extraordinary compassion emerged—one that not only saved lives but also moved an entire shelter to tears. John Foster, a 34-year-old mechanic from Kerrville, Texas, walked seven miles through treacherous floodwaters to deliver baby formula to a shelter in desperate need. What he did afterward cemented his place as a local hero.

A Father’s Resolve in the Face of Disaster

John Foster was no stranger to hardship. A single father of two, he had faced his share of challenges, from long work hours to the economic strain of raising young children. When the floods hit Kerrville, Foster was at home with his daughters, aged 3 and 5, preparing for a quiet Fourth of July. The sudden rise of the Guadalupe River forced them to evacuate to a nearby shelter at Calvary Temple Church, one of the few safe havens in the area.

The shelter was packed with over 200 evacuees—families, elderly residents, and children, many of whom had lost everything. As Foster settled his daughters, he overheard a young mother, Maria Gonzalez, in distress. Her infant son, only six months old, was crying inconsolably. The shelter had run out of baby formula, and with roads impassable and emergency supplies delayed, Gonzalez feared her baby would go hungry. “I felt her panic,” Foster later told a local reporter. “I’ve been there—worrying about feeding my kids. I knew I had to do something.”

Foster had a small stock of baby formula at his home, left over from when his youngest daughter was an infant. His house, miraculously, had avoided the worst of the flooding, but it was seven miles away, across a landscape now submerged in mud, debris, and rushing water. Despite warnings from shelter volunteers about the dangers, Foster made up his mind. “I couldn’t just sit there,” he said. “That baby needed food, and I had it.”

The Perilous Seven-Mile Trek

At 6 a.m. on July 5, with rain still falling and the river raging, Foster set out. He wore a raincoat, work boots, and carried a backpack with a flashlight, water, and a rope. The journey was grueling. Floodwaters had turned streets into rivers, and fallen trees and debris blocked his path. At times, Foster waded through waist-deep water, using his rope to anchor himself against the current. “There were moments I thought I wouldn’t make it,” he admitted. “The water was so cold, and I kept slipping. But I kept thinking about that baby.”

After nearly four hours, Foster reached his home. The lower level was flooded, but the baby formula, stored in a high cabinet, was intact. He grabbed six cans—enough to feed Gonzalez’s son and other infants at the shelter for days. Exhausted but determined, Foster began the return journey. The rain had slowed, but the terrain was even more hazardous, with mudslides and washed-out roads. By the time he stumbled back into the shelter at 2 p.m., he was soaked, bruised, and barely able to stand. Yet, he held up the cans of formula triumphantly.

A Shelter Moved to Tears

Maria Gonzalez burst into tears when Foster handed her the formula. She fed her son immediately, and the infant’s cries subsided. Word of Foster’s journey spread quickly through the shelter. Volunteers and evacuees gathered around, some hugging him, others shaking his hand. But Foster wasn’t done. Realizing the shelter’s supplies were critically low—not just for infants but for everyone—he took it upon himself to organize a relief effort.

Despite his exhaustion, Foster rallied a group of able-bodied evacuees. He contacted a friend with a working truck and coordinated with local volunteers who had access to boats. Over the next 24 hours, Foster led a team that retrieved food, blankets, and medical supplies from nearby homes and businesses that had escaped the worst of the flooding. He navigated the group through safe routes, avoiding areas where the river was still dangerous. By the evening of July 6, the shelter had enough supplies to sustain its occupants until professional relief teams arrived.

It was during a quiet moment that evening, as Foster distributed blankets to shivering children, that the shelter’s mood shifted. A volunteer, Sarah Thompson, stood up and shared Foster’s story with everyone present. “This man walked through a flood for a baby he didn’t know,” she said, her voice breaking. “And then he kept going for all of us.” The room erupted in applause, and many, including hardened first responders, were moved to tears. Gonzalez, holding her now-content son, approached Foster and said, “You’re our angel.”

A Community Inspired

Foster’s actions didn’t just save the day—they sparked a wave of solidarity. Inspired by his selflessness, other evacuees began sharing what little they had. A retired nurse offered medical care, a teenager taught younger kids games to keep them calm, and families pooled their snacks to ensure no one went hungry. “John showed us what it means to step up,” said Thompson. “He reminded us we’re stronger together.”

Local media caught wind of Foster’s story, and by July 7, it had gone viral. Posts on X praised him as “the heart of Texas,” with thousands sharing his tale of courage. A GoFundMe campaign, started by Gonzalez, raised $15,000 in 48 hours to help Foster repair his flood-damaged home and support his daughters. Yet, Foster remained humble. “I’m no hero,” he told a reporter from The Kerrville Daily Times. “I just did what needed doing.”

The Bigger Picture

Foster’s story stands out against the backdrop of a tragedy that exposed systemic challenges. The Texas floods revealed gaps in emergency preparedness, with many residents reporting they received no timely warnings. The National Weather Service issued 22 alerts, but spotty cell service in the Hill Country meant many never got them. Questions have since arisen about why summer camps like Camp Mystic, where 27 campers and counselors perished, weren’t evacuated sooner. Governor Greg Abbott has pledged a full investigation, but for now, the focus remains on recovery.

The floods claimed at least 120 lives, with 173 still missing as of July 9, 2025. Kerr County, where Foster’s journey took place, was the hardest hit, with 95 confirmed deaths. Amid such loss, stories like Foster’s offer hope. They remind us that even in the darkest moments, individual acts of kindness can light the way.

A Lasting Legacy

John Foster returned to his daughters, who greeted him with hugs and drawings of “Daddy the Hero.” He plans to use the GoFundMe funds to rebuild and hopes to volunteer with local disaster relief efforts. “If I can help one more person, it’s worth it,” he said.

As Texas rebuilds, Foster’s seven-mile walk will be remembered not just for the baby formula he delivered, but for the compassion he inspired. In a shelter filled with grief, his actions brought tears of gratitude and a renewed sense of community. In the words of Maria Gonzalez, “John didn’t just save my son. He saved our faith in each other.”