Mother shields child during tornado, dies

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Highlands County fatal Tropical Storm Debby

Photographer: WFTS
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Posted: 06/24/2012

By: Blake Sabatinelli
By: Jennifer Moore

LAKE PLACID - The Highlands County Sheriff's Office has released the identity of the mother who died while holding onto her child on Sunday during a tornado.

It happened at 220 Montana Trail in Venus, Florida, which is outside Lake Placid.

Heather Town, 32, died from injuries when her house broke apart and she was thrown, but officers say she managed to protect her three-year-old daughter.

The young girl was also injured in the tornado, but is currently in stable condition at a Tampa area hospital, according to officials.

Elsewhere in Lake Placid, one home was blown off of its foundation.

Part of the home was thrown 30-feet into the back yard.

Debris was thrown all over the front and back yard and a large tree was also knocked down.