Pavo residents aid in storm rescue

Published 11:25 am Monday, January 23, 2017

PAVO — The destructive weather in Thomas County early Sunday morning decimated a Pavo residence and left the occupant trapped in the aftermath. The occupant was rescued by a different kind of first responder — his neighbors.  

Gary Bell, the occupant of a residence on the corner of Centennial Road and Airline Road, was rescued by Danny King and his roommate. 

The storm reached the intensity to destroy Bell’s residence around 3 a.m. 

“We jumped and went in the living room and freaked out,” King said noticing the intensity of the storm.  

Noticing a lighting strike near Bell’s residence, King saw the worst. 

“Gary’s house was gone,” he said. 

King and his roommate quickly dressed and rushed to where Bell’s residence once stood. The two noticed Bell was buried in a foot-and-a-half of debris. 

“We seen his hands sticking out of a bunch of stuff,” King said. “You could barely hear him breathing.” 

King and his roommate found Bell around 3:05-3:10 a.m. 

Once Bell was unearthed, King’s roommate called 911. King added he tried to talk to Bell, but got no response. 

Bell’s injuries included an approximate 10-inch laceration on the front of his shin, a gash on top of his head, and a splinter protruding from his forearm. 

Once medical personnel arrived, five different people — King and his roommate, a law enforcement official, and two EMS officials – lifted Bell onto the stretcher. 

King talked to his landlord, also Bell’s nephew, after the incident and was told there is an 80 percent chance Bell won’t survive. 

On Monday morning, King found out from Bell’s family members he made it through the night. 

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.