Ryan Taylor, 13, drowns in Las Vegas floodwater after riding an innertube and getting trapped undern
Shocking new footage shows the horrifying moment that a 13-year-old boy who was riding an innertube in Las Vegas floodwater drowned after getting stuck underneath an SUV - as neighbors desperately tried to pull him free.
Ryan Taylor died in hospital early on Sunday morning after he was spotted being pushed on the inflatable by his friends in the floods outside his apartment complex on Saturday.
Taylor is thought to have rounded a bend and dropped into a 'gully' in the rushing water before becoming trapped under the vehicle. Dramatic cell phone video showed family, neighbors and strangers trying to rescue him.
Medics tried to resuscitate Taylor after he was pulled out of the water with no heartbeat. The Clark County coroner's office ruled his death an accidental drowning.
'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,' his mother Irene Reynaga posted on Instagram on the day Ryan died.
Taylor's mother Irene Reynaga took to Instagram on Sunday to pay tribute to her first-born son who celebrated his 13th birthday on August 27. Pictured: Ryan Taylor
Dramatic cell phone video showed family, neighbors and even strangers trying to rescue the young boy from underneath an SUV after playing in the water
Ryan Taylor with his younger sister and brother and their mother, Irene and their father, Mathew
'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,' her post continued.
Jennifer Webb, a resident who witnessed the kids playing, told 3news what she saw before everything took a turn for the worse.
Ryan Taylor was riding an innertube (above) when he went out in the floodwaters to play
'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,' said Webb.
Another resident John Cruz rushed over to help save Taylor and 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.'
Reynaga has since created a GoFundMe page in honor of her first-born son, who had only recently celebrated his 13th birthday on August 27.
The fund has already raised $6,955, exceeding the family's original goal of $5,000 for Taylor's funeral and memorial costs.
On the fundraiser page Taylor's mother said: 'Ryan was such an amazing kid. He was so helpful with his siblings and had such a big heart.'
The teenager's father Mathew Taylor also honored his son by posting pictures of him to his Instagram story.
Ryan Taylor and his dad Mathew Taylor who posted pictures on his Instagram story of his late son
Ryan Taylor who died after getting stuck beneath an SUV when riding an innertube in Las Vegas floodwater over the weekend
The GoFundMe page that Taylor's mother created in honor of him that has surpassed its goal of $5,000
Reeling from the flooding the city is braced for further downpours and remains under flash flood warning into Saturday night
In 2023 Vegas has experienced up to 3.9 inches of rain and on Friday alone there was a recorded 0.88 inches of rainfall - three times the September monthly average
Flash flooding in Las Vegas flowed through the city on Friday as the dirty floodwater swallowed up roads, casinos and the Las Vegas Strip.
In 2023 Vegas has experienced up to 3.9 inches of rain and on Friday alone there was a recorded 0.88 inches of rainfall, three times their September monthly average.
The National Weather Service has warned that the chance of further storms are likely and they could trigger more flash flooding and excessive runoff.
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