A deadly tornado hit Laurel County, Kentucky, recently, badly injuring Paul and Gail Cline, both in their 60s, who lost their opposite arms as they took cover inside their house, relatives and a WLEX report say.
Paul and Gail were at home in their bedroom when the tornado struck. A neighbor overheard their screams for help and came running to their aid. Their niece, Brandy Bowman, related, “She said, ‘I need help. I see an arm down the hallway,'” pointing to Gail’s arm, which was discovered in the hallway when the couple was removed by a rescuer combing through the wreckage for survivors.
The couple lost opposite arms because ‘they were holding each other’ when the storm happened.
Couple’s Medical Condition
The couple was taken to the hospital. Gail is now on life support after receiving a punctured lung, while Paul is stable but recovering from losing an arm and has not yet fully understood the trauma due to dementia.
Their niece Taylor Baker wrote on Facebook, “My uncle Paul is stable but did have to have an arm amputated. My aunt Gail is still on life support and also had an arm removed. She needs all the prayers she can get.” She also thanked friends and strangers who have been sending food and supplies.
Aftermath of Tornado
The tornado resulted in extensive devastation, killing 19 people in Kentucky, primarily in Laurel County, the Associated Press reported. A GoFundMe campaign for Gail’s treatment captures the couple’s struggles: “Their home, vehicles, and everything they’ve worked for is gone. They are two of the best people you could ever find. My aunt’s daughter also has stage 4 cancer, so they were already fighting that before this came along. They require all the prayers and help they can receive.”
