UPDATE 2 PM Tragedy and heroism: Tornado claims life in Butler County, but local heroes save a life

A tornado in Butler County claimed the life of 62-year-old Ronnie Ezell, while his wife was saved by heroic efforts of local EMS and a sheriff’s deputy.

Butler County Coroner Jim Akers announced Ezell’s name shortly before noon Saturday.

Ezell’s wife is alive because of the “heroic efforts of the Butler County EMS and a Butler County Sheriff’s deputy,” Akers said. The deputy and EMS hiked in nearly a mile to get to the Ezells.

Ezell and his wife were in bed sleeping at the time of the storm hit their home on County Road 450.

“She was rescued and evacuated,” Akers said.

Akers also praised Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center for sending nurses to the areas affected by the storm.