Soccer coach and wife killed in Texas floods as their kids remain missing with death toll at 52
By LAURA PARNABY
A beloved soccer coach and his wife have been confirmed among those killed by the devastating floods sweeping Texas, as the death toll surpasses 50 people.
The ongoing deluge which started on July 3 has taken the lives of at least 52 people, including 15 children, while destroying thousands of homes and businesses.
Soccer coach Reece Zunker and his wife Paula died in the horrific torrent - and their two young children are still missing.
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The couple's family and local soccer team confirmed their deaths on social media, while one relative said their house was spotted 'floating down the Guadalupe River'.
It comes as residents have started questioning why officials failed to warn them about the floods until 1.18pm on July 3, and framed them as only 'moderate' storms.
The National Weather Service escalated the alert to a flash flood warning at 1am Friday, then a more serious Flash Flood Emergency by 4.30am - but by this stage water was already pouring into families' homes.
A flood watch remains in place for many of the worst-hit areas of central Texas through Sunday, including Kerrville County where the majority of the deaths have been recorded. Forecasters have warned that more rain is on the way.
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Beloved soccer coach and wife among the dead
Reece Zunker and his wife Paula are among those who died in the devastating floods, and their two young children are still missing.
The couple's family and local soccer team confirmed their deaths on social media, while one relative said their house was spotted 'floating down the Guadalupe River'.
Tivy Boys Soccer team paid tribute to their coach in a Facebook post, saying he 'rebuilt the soccer program and left a legacy'.
'His passion for his players, students, co-workers, community and his family will never be forgotten,' the team wrote.
Dozens of people commented on the post to share the 'incredible' impact he had on their lives.
In a tragic development Saturday afternoon, the bodies of longtime Kerrville Tivy soccer coach Reece Zunker and his wife Paula were discovered after early Friday morning floods ravaged the area, bringing the death toll to at least 43, per the Associated Press, with CNN citing 51 deaths - including 15 children - according to local officials.While officials have yet to say how many remain missing, the Zunkers' two young children and at least 27 youths from a single summer camp that was reportedly washed away are also known to be unaccounted for.
08:59
Meteorologists warn more flooding could be on the way for the worst-hit county
The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for several counties including Kerrville County in Texas, which has seen the worst of the flooding so far.
Meteorologists have warned that 'flooding caused by excessive rainfall is possible' in the region until 1pm on Sunday.
The warning covers Bandera, Bastrop, Bexar, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Comal, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Hays, Kendall, Kerr, Lee, Llano, Medina, Travis and Williamson counties.
Officials have predicted another two to four inches will fall on average over the area, with up to 10 inches possible in the worst-hit regions.
08:53
Blame game begins as heartbroken residents question why they weren't warned sooner
Residents have started questioning why officials did not warn them about the floods until 1.18pm on July 3 - the day they began - and framed them as only 'moderate' storms.
The National Weather Service escalated the alert to a flash flood warning at 1am Friday, followed by a more serious Flash Flood Emergency by 4.30am.
But by this point, water was already pouring into families' homes.
Many Texans have blamed the slow updates as part of the reason at least 52 people have lost their lives and dozens remain missing.
The National Weather Service fired around 600 people in recent months as part of Donald Trump's sweeping cuts to federal services.
It had recently begun the process of hiring 100 new employees.
Trump has also proposed cuts to FEMA and NOAA, federal agencies which conduct climate research and help prepare states for natural disasters.
08:46
Texas floods mapped out
ISTANBUL, TURKIYE - JULY 6: An infographic titled 'Flooding disaster in Texas' created in Istanbul, Turkiye on July 5, 2025. At least 51 people died in the flood, with the total number of missing still unclear, say officials. (Photo by Ufuk Celal Guzel/Anadolu via Getty Images)
08:42
Texas Governor shocked and horrified by the extent of the flood damage
Greg Abbott described a scene of pure horror on Saturday as he visited Camp Mystic.
The scenic site was at the epicenter of the flooding, and dozens of children were camping there when the deluge struck.
08:26
Texas flooding death toll climbs to 52
Officials have said 52 people have been confirmed dead, including 15 children, since the deluge began in central Texas on Thursday.
The majority of those who died were in Kerrville County, where the Guadalupe River broke its banks in the early hours of the Fourth of July.
Rescuers were continuing to comb the river for dozens of missing people on Sunday. The death toll is expected to rise.
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