Kentucky firefighter likely died shielding wife from catastrophic London tornado

The images of drones filmed on Saturday morning show the devastation left by a tornado that crossed London, Kentucky, on Friday night.

Laurel County, Ky. – The Laurel County community, Kentucky, is afflicting the loss of more than a boxes, including a firefighter who spent almost four decades helping others, after a tornado destroyed his neighboring neighborhood while he was on duty.

The major of the Fire Department of Laurel County, Leslie “Les”, Roger Leatherman, died Friday night after a tornado crossed the subdivision of Sunshine Hills out of London, Kentucky.

“His house is nothing more than blockages now; his house does not have,” Fox Weather, fire deputy director of Fire County, Terry Wattenbarger, Fox Weather told Fox Weather.

Leatherman responded to a call on Friday night and returned home when the tornado took place.

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Leatherman’s wife, Michelle, was criticized and remains in critical but stable condition. The couple was found in a field about 150 to 300 feet from their home.

Major Leslie “Les” Roger Leatherman, from the Laurel County Fire Department, was killed when a tornado hit his neighborhood on May 16, 2025.

(Laurel County Fire Department / Fox Climate)

“It seems he gave him his life to save his life,” said Wattenbarger.

Wattenbarger is a lifelong friend and partner with Leatherman. The couple graduated together from high school and joined the department of volunteer firefighters.

Cotton Barger said his friend probably died doing what his life dedicated: helping others.

“He was really a public heart server,” Wattenbarger said.

After the Volunteer Fire Service, Leatherman became an emergency medical technician, then a 911 operator and a Kentucky State Police dispatcher. Before his adjustment, he was deputy director in Whitley County 911.

“All his life, volunteer and career have been nothing more than public service and delivers to the public and trying to take care of other people’s emergencies,” Wattenbarger said.

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The death of Leaterman marks the first death of the service line for the department since 1962.

Tornado damage in Laurel County, Kentucky.

(@jsmithwx / Fox Climate)

Leatherman survives his wife, Michelle; Son, Evan; Daughter -in -law, amber; and his two grandchildren. Wattenbarger said he was a proud father and loved his son “Endlesly.”

“He was a very proud father. He loved Evan Endlesly. Evan interpreted football and was constantly boasting Evan, you know, how good he was in football. And once he got grandchildren, he was proud of his grandchildren,” Hey said.

In its 39 years of service, Cotton Barger estimates that May 16 is the local natural sausage disaster in Laurel County. Both veteran firefighters responded to a mortal tornado in March 2012, which claimed the lives of six people.

At least 17 lives in Laurel County were the duration of tasks, severe weather and tornado event on Friday. The death toll also continues to increase in the neighboring counties of eastern Kentucky.

Tornado damage in London, Kentucky, as seen on May 17, 2025.

(Mayor of London Randall Weddle / Fox Weather)

The Sunshine Hill subdivision suffered unimagered destruction. Another bay county firefighter who responded to the tornado also suffered a complete loss of his home, Wattenbarger said.

The department continues to respond to the natural disaster and cries the loss of a large public servant.

“We are survivors, and we will continue. He would do it because we do it, and that is to provide the service provided by his last to the Laurel County community.”