Kentucky mother describes son’s last moments as tornado collapsed building

With severe weather and the threat of tornadoes in the forecast, Carla Hill thought the safest place for her family to shelter was the business she worked at, a manufacturing company across from the London-Corbin airport.

“I just thought it would be safer, more sturdy than our single-wide trailer,” Hill said.

So she, her husband and her 25-year-son, Marshall Miracle, sheltered in the building as an EF3 tornado ravaged the stretches of Laurel County late Friday night.

Marshall was a weather watcher and was following a tornado chaser on YouTube.

“He was scared and nervous and frantic” as they took shelter, but also taken aback as he saw the tornado coming toward them before they ran to the bathroom, Hill said.

“It’s huge,” he told his mother.

At home, their trailer was not damaged, but the business collapsed on top of the family as they huddled in the bathroom.

“We were trapped,” Hill said. “By the grace of God,” her husband climbed his way out.

He tried to pull debris off of them, “but it was all too heavy.”

Marshall Miracle died before rescuers could get him out, his mother told the Herald-Leader. He is one of 17 confirmed victims of the overnight storm in Laurel County, and one of 19 statewide.

“He was gasping for air. He said, ‘Mom I can’t breathe.’”

Carla Hill and her husband Dean Hill sustained injuries. She broke her shoulder and had cuts, and Dean Hill had bruises and scrapes. But she said Marshall saved her with the positioning of his body.

“I believe that if he wasn’t in the spot he was in, I would be gone. I believe that protected me in some way. Part of his body was on my leg. I could see his head,” Carla Hill said. “He protected me from more injuries.”

Marshall Miracle is the youngest of the confirmed victims of two tornadoes that touched down late the night of May 16 in southeastern Kentucky.

In addition to the Hills, Marshall was also the son of Chad Miracle and wife Traci Miracle.

Marshall was a father himself and doted on his son, Noah James Miracle, who is nearly 6.

“They were two peas in a pod,” Carla Hill said. “They were best friends. They loved on each other, built forts, played video games, played outside and went on adventures. “

Marshall was an entrepreneur who chased his dreams and never gave up, his mother said. He was trying to start a faith-based calendar and planner business. He attended Somerset Community College and an online business university.

He was known for his servant heart and pursued opportunities that allowed him to help others.

Hill said her son volunteered with the Lily Fire Department for several years and always wanted to be an emergency medical technician.

That department ended up removing Miracle’s body.

“I think God planned it that way,” she said. “Marshall loved his time with the fire department. He loved those people. I know that he would be so thankful that they were the ones that ended up being there to help him get out.”

Marshall was also a man of the Holiness Faith.

“He knew the Word,” his mother said.

Carla Hill said her son felt strongly about being a registered organ donor and would have wanted her to encourage people to do the same, even though he was not ultimately able to donate himself.

A visitation for Marshall Miracle begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 21, at Bowling Funeral Home. The funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 22, at the funeral home.

This story was originally published May 20, 2025 at 12:12 PM.