A storm chaser and field reporter captured the breathtaking moment he discovered and helped rescue a man trapped under debris after a series of tornadoes devastated Illinois on June 12.
Mr. Scott Lasker was filming the tornado-damaged scene when he suddenly heard cries for help from afar.
According to the released video, Lasker followed the screams and found a completely collapsed house. Beneath numerous containers and heavy debris, a man was trapped.
“I think my leg is broken,” the man told Lasker.
Immediately, Lasker handed his camera to a woman present at the scene and, along with others nearby, began clearing debris to assist the victim.
“I usually just film tornadoes moving across open fields. Directly participating in a rescue situation like this is entirely new to me,” Lasker shared with FOX 32 Chicago.
He stated that witnessing destroyed homes was already heartbreaking, but seeing people trapped in the rubble moved him even more.
Shortly thereafter, police arrived at the scene and extricated the man from the debris before transferring him to a local hospital. According to Lasker, the victim is expected to recover.
According to FOX Weather, at least three tornadoes touched down in Indiana and Illinois on June 12, causing power outages for approximately 500,000 customers.
The U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed that the tornado in Streator, Illinois, was an EF-3, with winds reaching 136 mph, strong enough to flip cars, derail trains, and uproot large trees.
Local authorities have opened support centers to assist evacuated families, while the American Red Cross operates emergency shelters for those affected.
Streator Mayor Tara Bedei stated that no fatalities have been reported to date.
“We are incredibly grateful that our residents are safe and that emergency services responded very quickly,” she said.
