VIDEO: Bill Atkins says his neighbors helped save his life on May 16th. He tells First Alert 4, โWe should all be ready to stand with our neighbors and join hands and do what needs to be done.โ He is recovering at the hospital recalling the day an EF-3 tornado swept through parts of the city.
โItโs tear-jerking almost to see that my block, my community, step up,โ says Atkins. Atkins was outside with his wife when he noticed the wind started picking up. As his wife went to the basement, he stopped to grab a flashlight. He says a large wooden board came flying through the window of his home on Kensington Avenue.
โI hit the floor, and Iโm being dragged across the floor. All I could do was think to cover my head,โ says Atkins. He discovered his ankle had been severed. His wifeโs calls to 911 werenโt going through, but help was on the way. Neighbors on the street began checking on each other and made their way into his home.
Atkins tells First Alert 4, โPeople started coming into my house. I didnโt recognize anybody at first. But as seconds went on, started to realize who they are. Theyโre my neighbors.โ Neighbor Ples Warren tells First Alert 4, โI seen the damage and I seen him on the floor, so the first instinct was, I didnโt panic, just got in work mode to help.โ
Warren and other neighbors applied a tourniquet and carried him to the front porch. The retired St. Louis City Firefighter is recovering and facing the reality of life with a missing limb.
