David Muir leaves viewers ‘heartbroken’ as he meets son searching for parents in Texas

David Muir spoke to Robert Brake Jr., whose parents Robert Leroy Brake Sr. and Joni Kay Brake have been missing since their cabin was swept away in the Texas floods last Friday

David Muir has left ABC viewers “heartbroken” after interviewing a son still searching for his parents after the devastating floods in Texas.

The 51-year-old host has been reporting from the Texas Hill Country, where the search continues for more than 170 people believed to be missing days after a destructive wall of water killed over 100 victims. Giving viewers a close look at the tragedy, David said families know “time is running out” for their loved ones to be found.

During the TV segment, he spoke to Robert Brake Jr., who has been scouring the river bank in a bid to find his parents who have been missing since floodwaters carried away their cabin at the HTR campground in Kerrville, Texas, in the early hours of the Fourth of July. He explained that the man’s brother managed to escape a nearby cabin he was in with his girlfriend, but their parents Robert Leroy Brake Sr. and Joni Kay Brake sadly went missing – and both siblings are now trying to find them.

Robert said he has been out every day since July 4. He received a call at around 4.40 a.m. last Friday from his brother who said they all needed help. He said he immediately called his dad who picked up the phone – but in their brief, last conversation, Robert only managed to inform his dad that his brother had asked for help.

David speaking to Robert Leroy Brake Jr., who is looking for his parents(Image: ABC)

David said in the broadcast, “By the time his brother could make his way to his parents’ cabin, it was gone.” Every day since the floods hit, Robert has been climbing through trees and through the debris left behind, looking for his parents in the Guadalupe River.

Robert also spoke to David’s ABC News colleague Jaclyn Lee, saying, “My folks got washed away in their cabin. We came down to help in the search efforts. Maybe not be able to find my parents under this tragedy, but maybe we can help somebody else find theirs and have some closure and peace.”

After a clip of David’s report from Texas was shared on Instagram by ABC World News Tonight, viewers said they felt heartbroken, while praising the journalists who have been highlighting the aftermath of the disastrous floods. “Truly heartbreaking and so devastating! Prayers from Pennsylvania,” said one, while another wrote, “This is heartbreaking.”

A third commented, “Sending prayers and love to everyone who lost a loved one.” One more added, “Heartbreaking. Praying for miracles.” One praised ABC and David, saying, “AMAZING WORK AND COVERAGE!!GOD BLESS TO ALL THE FAMILIES!”

Search operations are continuing in Texas(Image: ABC)

A viewer said, “It’s heartbreaking…. The death toll is likely to increase as the recovery mission goes on…. Wishing all the missing could be recovered soon, and their love ones could receive some closure…. Thoughts and Prayers….”

As the search for missing people continues, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said during a news conference Tuesday, “Know this: We will not stop until every missing person is accounted for. Know this also: There very likely could be more added to that list.” Abbot said officials have been seeking more information about those who were in the state’s Hill Country during the Fourth of July holiday but did not register at a camp or a hotel and may have been in the area without many people knowing.

The lowlands of Kerr County along the Guadalupe River, where most of the victims of the flash flooding have been recovered so far, are filled with youth camps and campgrounds, including Camp Mystic, the century-all all-girls Christian summer camp where at least 27 campers and counselors died. Officials said Tuesday that five campers and one counselor have still not been found.

Crews in airboats, helicopters and on horseback along with hundreds of volunteers are part of one of the largest search operations in Texas’ history. The flash flood is the deadliest from inland flooding in the US since Colorado’s Big Thompson Canyon flood on July 31, 1976, killed 144 people, said Bob Henson, a meteorologist with Yale Climate Connections. That flood surged through a narrow canyon packed with people on a holiday weekend, Colorado’s centennial celebration.