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“An absolute miracle.”
That’s the only way to describe 7-year-old Lane Lambert surviving being thrown 25 feet after getting sucked up in the tornado that destroyed his family’s home near Abilene, Texas, last week.
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“[Dad] Wes and I tried to cover them as much as we could, and at that point, I remember hearing glass break and then I remember hearing bricks coming down on top of us,” a tearful Kasey Lambert recalled. “We just continued to brace and hold them as tightly as possible. Wes, at one point, reached up to cover my head. At that point, the suction became so strong, it sucked Lane from Wes’ arms.”
Wes and Kasey Lambert, and their kids, Lane (7) and Allie (4), were huddled in a closet in their house when the tornado struck their neighborhood, completely destroying their home and six others. When Lane was “ripped from their arms” by the devastating storm, the family feared he was gone for good. Miraculously, they soon found him on top of some insulation nearby with a dislocated shoulder and injuries to his face and eyes, most likely from a brick.
The family was severely shaken up and in desperate need of medical attention when storm chaser Freddy McKinney drove up.
“Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. There are people. There are people,” Mr. McKinney is heard saying in his storm chaser video. “Get in the car, get in the car.”
Mr. McKinney was able to drive the family to the hospital to get their injuries treated. According to the family’s GoFundMe page, which was set up by Mrs. Lambert’s cousin, sister Allie walked away with only a few scratches. Mr. Lambert sustained a fractured wrist and injured knee, and Mrs. Lambert was dealing with severe bruising on her side and back from being hit by the water heater tank.
“They are in good spirits and their immediate needs (clothing, food, toiletries, toys, etc.) have been met,” read the description of their GoFundMe page. “Their cattle is being cared for and the dogs have been rescued and treated. They will need funds to help in the transition, rebuilding their lives and covering their ER & vet bills. Any excess funds will be shared with the neighboring community, as there were six homes destroyed.”
Meanwhile, Mr. McKinney is being hailed as the family’s “guardian angel,” and has kept in touch. Lane even named his new stuffed animal after him.
“I’ve never met a more courageous family in my life,” Mr. McKinney posted on X. “Kasey and Wes you guys are absolutely rock stars. I’m so glad you guys are doing better.”
I’ve never met a more courageous family in my life. Kasey and Wes you guys are absolutely rock stars. I’m so glad you guys are doing better. Thank you for sharing this update Bradye. https://t.co/7Psdo1EEzZ
— Freddy McKinney (@FreddyMcKinneyR) May 3, 2024
Over the weekend, Lane was able to open both of his eyes and got the “all clear from the optometrist.” The family was even well enough to visit their former home (Allie is still hoping they find her “stuffy” in the rubble!)—a stark reminder of what they all survived.
“It is an absolute miracle,” Mrs. Lambert said. “It was strong enough that we shouldn’t have been able to walk away.”
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Marissa Mayer is a writer and editor with more than 10 years of professional experience. Her work has been featured in Christian Post, The Daily Signal, and Intellectual Takeout. Mayer has a B.A. in English with an emphasis in Creative Writing from Arizona State University.
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