Key Points Summary – Tornado Tragedy

• Paul and Gail Cline lost opposite arms while embracing during a deadly tornado.
• The couple clung to each other as their Kentucky home was obliterated.
• A heroic neighbor helped save Gail’s life with a makeshift tourniquet.
• Gail was placed on life support but is now recovering.
• Paul, a local pastor, is recovering and was reunited with his wife in the hospital.
• Their tiny dog Sadie survived and brought them comfort in recovery.
• A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $56,000 to help them rebuild.

Tornado Tragedy: Kentucky Couple Torn Apart While Holding On For Life

A catastrophic tornado ripped through London, Kentucky, on May 16, turning homes into rubble and lives into survival stories. For Paul and Gail Cline, it became a fight for life—one they faced together.

The married couple of 29 years was hunkered down in their bedroom when a massive twister tore through with 170 mph winds. Sheetrock flew. Glass shattered. And the Clines embraced, possibly for the last time.

They Held On—And Paid A Devastating Price

When the storm subsided, a neighbor rushed to the wreckage. The Clines were found crying out for help, still locked in each other’s arms.

That grip cost them dearly. Paul lost one arm. Gail lost the other.

“They were holding each other when it hit,” said Brandy Bowman, their niece. “That’s why they lost opposite arms.”

Another niece, Taylor Baker, credited the neighbor for saving Gail’s life. “He made a tourniquet with a cord—that’s what stopped the bleeding,” she said.

Community Pastor and His Wife Now Face Long Recovery

Paul, a well-known local pastor, and Gail were rushed to a nearby hospital. Gail suffered extensive injuries, including damage to her ribs, liver, and lungs. She was placed in a medically induced coma.

On Thursday, Gail finally came off life support. A tearful photo captured the moment she and Paul saw each other for the first time since the storm.

Paul, though also missing an arm, is recovering faster. But the emotional toll remains steep.

Miracle Pup Sadie Survives the Storm

Their 12-year-old dog Sadie was found in the rubble, unharmed. The tiny survivor waited in what remained of their bedroom.

Hospital staff brought Sadie in to comfort the couple. The dog especially lifted Paul’s spirits. He has dementia and struggles to grasp the extent of what happened.

“I can’t stop thinking about how scared they must have been,” Baker said. “They’ve always been godly, faithful people.”

Family Already Battling Another Crisis

As if the tragedy weren’t enough, the Clines were already facing heartbreak: Gail’s daughter is battling stage 4 cancer.

Now, their home is gone. Their bodies are broken. But their faith remains.

A GoFundMe campaign launched by Baker has raised over $56,000.

“They need every bit of help and prayer right now,” she said. “They’ve lost everything.”

Governor Declares State of Emergency

On the same day the tornado hit, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear declared a state of emergency.

“We expect strong winds, hail, and possible flooding,” Beshear warned. “Everyone needs to stay alert and ready to seek shelter.”

But for the Clines, the damage was already done.

Their home? Gone. Their arms? Lost. But their bond? Unshaken.

Love Survives the Storm

Through shattered walls and unrelenting winds, Paul and Gail held on to each other. That act of love cost them limbs—but may have saved their lives.

No dramatic rescue. No flashy headlines. Just two people refusing to let go.

In a world obsessed with division, their story stands as a brutal but beautiful reminder: even in the worst storm, love can endure.

While they now face months—perhaps years—of recovery, one thing’s clear: they didn’t lose everything. They still have each other.

And that may be the most powerful survival story of all.