Couple Loses Arms in Kentucky Tornado
A couple from Laurel County, Kentucky, lost their arms while trying to evacuate during an EF-4 tornado. Paul and Gale Klein, both in their sixties, were found hugging each other amid the destruction after the storm struck on May 16th. Tragically, they ended up losing their opposite arms in the process.
According to Brandi Bowman, their niece, when rescuers discovered them, they were still holding each other tightly. She shared that the couple was in their bedrooms when the tornado hit. In an effort to stem Gale’s bleeding, Paul managed to tie off a cord from something in the house.
Once freed, they were taken to London Hospital. While Paul seems to be recovering adequately, Gale suffered severe injuries to her ribs, liver, and lungs, along with multiple broken bones.
A GoFundMe page has been established to assist the couple with their recovery, highlighting that not only did their home get destroyed, but they also lost both of their vehicles. As of the latest update, over 1,200 donors have contributed more than $61,000 to support them.
The National Weather Service confirmed the tornado was an EF-4, leading to significant devastation across the region and resulting in 19 fatalities. Reports indicated that the tornado reached winds of up to 170 mph, with a width of nearly a mile and a path extending about 56 miles from Somerset to London, marking it as one of the most powerful storms in Kentucky in the past fifty years.
