A 13-year-old boy who was riding an innertube in floodwater drowned after getting trapped underneath an SUV.
Ryan Taylor from Las Vegas was seen being pushed on the innertube by his friends but he was thought to have rounded a bend before being dropped into a ‘gully.’ He then got stuck under the vehicle and bystanders desperately tried to rescue him.
He was rushed to a hospital where doctors tried to resuscitate him. His death was ruled an accidental drowning.
His grieving mother Irene Reynaga took to Instagram and shared the heartbreaking news, writing: “My heart hurts so much, I love you so much Ryan. I’m gonna miss you my love, I hope we gave you the best 13 years of your life, words can’t express how much this hurts.
“I wish this was all a dream. REST IN PEACE MY LOVE WE WILL LOVE YOU AND CHERISH EVERY MOMENT WE GOT TO LIVE WITH YOU I LOVE YOU FOREVER MY SWEET BOY.”
Resident Jennifer Webb, who saw the children playing, told 3news: “He was waving at everybody like he was having a great time, and then he got around that curve over there, and it was like a gully.”
Neighbor John Cruz, who rushed to help rescue the teen, said: “’I didn’t know firsthand what was happening. The water is still flowing in hard, and I pushed through that and ended up helping bring that boy out.”
The family has set up a GoFundMe page for Taylor’s funeral and memorial costs and raised $6,955 of its $5,000 goal.
“Ryan was such an amazing kid. He was so helpful with his siblings and had such a big heart,” the page read.
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