They held on tight – then the tornado ripped their arms off

Paul and Gail Cline didn’t let go of each other — not even when a tornado tore through their Kentucky home and tore their arms away.

Now, the couple in their 60s is clinging to life in a hospital bed, their story both heart-wrenching and heroic.

Last Friday, a deadly tornado tore through Laurel County, Kentucky, destroying homes and leaving unimaginable devastation in its path. The tragedy has shaken communities across the state, yet amid the heartbreak, recovery efforts press on — with first responders, volunteers, and even local high school students stepping up to help rebuild what was lost.

For Paul and Gail Cline, the storm turned their lives upside down and became a struggle to simply stay alive.

“I see an arm down the hallway”

As the winds howled outside, Paul and Gail held onto each other inside their bedroom — until the twister hit. According to their nieces, Taylor Baker and Brandy Bowman, the force of the tornado was so violent that it ripped off each of their opposite arms while they were still clinging together.

“She said ‘I need help. I see an arm down the hallway,’” Bowman recalled in an interview with Lex18. “Which was actually Gail’s arm that was shredded during the tornado. The doctors said where they lost opposite arms is because they were holding each other.”

A neighbor heard the screams and rushed in to pull the couple out from the wreckage.

Gail on life support, Paul in shock

While Paul has shown some signs of improvement, Gail’s condition is critical. According to WRTV, Gail was placed in a medically induced coma and remains on life support. In addition to her missing arm, flying debris shattered her ribs, puncturing both lungs.

Baker says her uncle, who suffers from dementia, still doesn’t fully grasp what happened.

“All I can’t get out of my head is just how terrified they both were,” she said. “I cannot imagine the fear that was going through their minds, but there’s one thing about them — they are godly people.”

Generations of memories — now gone

The house that once stood strong had been in their family for generations.

Now, it’s a skeleton of shattered glass, torn insulation, and splintered wood. Yet somehow, among the ruins, some things remain eerily untouched — like a robe in their bedroom.

“They were in this bedroom and you can see where stuff came through. This is where they were, and the neighbor came; he heard them screaming for help. So he came to help them. He pulled them out into the hallway there,” said Bowman.

A loyal dog waits for her family

Their 12-year-old dog, Sadie, was also caught in the chaos. After going missing during the storm, she was later found — incredibly — lying in what was left of the couple’s bedroom, waiting faithfully for someone to return.

“We played in all these houses”

Baker and Bowman say the loss is deeply personal. “We grew up being babysat by our ma maw in this house. We played in all of these houses, we had dinner in all of these houses. It’s hard,” they said.

While they grieve the loss of their family home, the women are focused on the future — and helping the Clines rebuild. Both of the couple’s cars were destroyed, and the road to recovery will be long and costly.

They’ve launched a GoFundMe to help cover hospital bills and housing needs once Paul and Gail are well enough to leave the hospital.

But if there’s one thing the family is sure of, it’s this: “They’re strong enough to support each other through this tragedy — just like they did when the storm hit.”

19 dead

At least 19 lives were lost when powerful tornadoes tore through Pulaski and Laurel counties in southeastern Kentucky on Friday.

“We have lost 19 people to this weather event, each one a child of God who will be missed by their families,” Governor Andy Beshear shared in a heartfelt message. “Please keep praying for them, the 10 individuals being treated at UK Hospital, and for everyone affected by these storms.”