Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Bodycam video shows the moment rescuers find two babies in a bathtub after Kentucky tornadoes

The children were staying with their grandmother when the storms hit

Graig Graziosi
Wednesday 22 December 2021 11:46 EST
Comments
Babies found alive under bathtub amidst Kentucky tornado damage

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Recently released body camera footage shows the moment rescuers pulled a pair of infants from an overturned bathtub strewn amongst the debris left by the powerful tornadoes that tore through Kentucky in early December.

As the tornadoes closed in on Hopkins County, Clara Lutz rushed to protect her grandchildren, Kaden, 15 months, and Dallas, 3 months. With sirens blaring and skies darkening, she placed the children into her bathtub with a blanket, a pillow and a Bible.

Ms Lutz told 14 News that she could feel the tub being "lifted" from her hands and off the floor as the tornado ripped the house apart.

The recently released body cam video shows the aftermath of the storm, as rescuers from the Hopkins County Sheriff’s Office search Ms Lutz's yard for any sign of the children. With only flashlights to cut through the night, the rescuers manage to catch a glimpse of what appears to be a mangled bath tub. They grab its edges and flip it over, where they find the two children, wrapped in the blanket their grandmother gave them, underneath.

Deputy Trent Arnold told 14 News he believed Ms Lutz's preparedness helped save her grandchildren's lives.

“The actions that the grandmother took in placing the blankets and the pillows, all of that stuff around those kids, I think that may have been what made the difference,”Mr Arnold said.

The children did have some minor injuries following their harrowing evening.

“I got in the sheriff’s car down at the end of my driveway, and it wasn’t long after that that they opened up the door and brought me Kaden, my 15-month-old. And they brought me my three-month-old, baby Dallas. They brought him to me. He had a goose egg on the back of his head, we didn’t know what was wrong,” Ms Lutz told the outlet.

Kaden's bump came from some kind of impact that also caused his brain to bleed, though thankfully it stopped before the child could be taken to a hospital.

Recent report suggests the children are safe and should recover from their close call without issue.

The tornadoes that tore through Kentucky left at least 76 dead and thousands of homes destroyed. At least nine workers at a candle factory were killed when the storms caused the building to crumble.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in