‘He froze to death.’ Pulaski man among Winter Storm Fern fatalities in KY

A man living in a travel trailer that lost heat during Winter Storm Fern died of hypothermia, Pulaski County Coroner Clyde Strunk confirmed to the Herald-Leader Wednesday.

James Phillips, 62, was among the 11 fatalities announced Wednesday by Gov. Andy Beshear.

Phillips was pronounced dead at 8:45 a.m. Saturday in an area of Pulaski County called Bend of the Lake Shores, Strunk said. He was in the trailer at the time.

“We had to cut our way in. The trees fell over the road, power lines down,” said Strunk, describing how the storm had ravaged a residential area.

Strunk said Phillips was living in the travel trailer and the power had gone out in the storm.

“There was no way for him to heat it since the electric was down and the travel trailer was not in good shape. Basically he froze to death from hypothermia,” said Strunk.

Phillips was at least the second person to have suffered hypothermia and died, according to state and local officials. Gov. Andy Beshear said earlier Wednesday that Betty Veach, 72, had suffered hypothermia and died as well. Veach also had fallen and suffered significant injuries, according to Beshear and her family.

This story was originally published January 28, 2026 at 6:52 PM.