Couple each lose an arm as they embrace while a twister with 170mph winds wrecks their home

Daily Mail​

23-05-2025

A married Kentucky couple both in their late 60s each lost an arm as they embraced while tornado wrecked their home.
Paul and Gail Cline were hunkered down in their London, Kentucky bedroom as a twister with 170mph wind speeds made them fear for their lives on May 16.
In what could have been their final moments, the couple - who have been married for 29 years - held each other tightly as the storm raged on, sending sheet rock and shattered glass through the air.
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When the terrifying tornado finally settled, a neighbor rushed to the ruins of the Clines' home, where Paul and Gail were crying for help.
'When they were found, they were holding each other, and that's why they lost opposite arms,' Brandy Bowman, one of the Clines' nieces, told WLKY.
'Because they were holding on to each other, and whatever impacted them impacted them at the same time.'
Taylor Baker, another niece, thanked the heroic neighbor for saving her aunt and uncle's lives.
'He pulled a cord from something and put a tourniquet on her arm, and that's what kept her from bleeding out,' Baker told the outlet.
Paul, a beloved community pastor, and Gail were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they have remained ever since the harrowing incident.
Gail suffered extreme injuries was put in a medically induced coma and placed on life support. She sustained damage to her ribs, liver and lungs.
Fortunately, she was able to come off life support on Thursday, and a heartwarming photo captured the moment Paul and Gail laid eyes on each other for the first time since their ordeal.
Paul's injuries were less severe, despite losing his arm as well, and he is in recovery. Although their long-time home was reduced to rubble, their tiny 12-year-old dog Sadie survived the disaster.
The dog was found in their bedroom, and was brought to the hospital to comfort the pair battling to recovery.
Rebuilding: The elderly couple will have to put their lives and their home back together after they leave hospital
The furry guest especially excited Paul, who has dementia and is struggling to comprehend what exactly transpired.
'All I can't get out of my head is just how terrified they both were. I cannot imagine the fear that was going through their minds, but there's one thing about them they are godly people,' Baker told Lex18.
A GoFundMe created by Baker to help the Clines rebuilt their lives has already raised nearly $56,000.
Baker wrote: 'My aunt and uncle lost everything in the recent tornadoes in London, Ky. They both lost an arm and my aunt is still on life support.
'Their home and 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 battling that before this hit. They need all the help and prayers they can get.'
Governor Andy Beshear had declared a state of emergency the day the Clines lost nearly everything.
'Once again we have a dangerous weather system sweeping across the commonwealth,' Beshear urgently warned.
'We expect a significant round of weather coming this afternoon and into tonight that will produce strong winds that could lead to power outages, a possibility of hail, flooding and potential for tornadoes.
'We need everyone to be really careful and make sure you have weather alerts on and are at a location where you can seek safety if needed.'