Len Latours is lucky to be alive after his Tamborine Mountain home was destroyed on Christmas Day

A 74-year-old man who managed to survive when a freak tornado destroyed his home of 40 years on Christmas Day has shared these beautiful words in response to community support. WATCH THE DEVASTATING FOOTAGE

An elderly man is lucky to be alive after his home was ripped to shreds by a freak tornado on Christmas Day.

Tamborine Mountain man Len Latours bunkered down in his bedroom with his two dogs as the destructive storm battered his home of more than 40 years and tore it down around him.

The same deadly storm claimed the life of Robyn Carman at Helensvale, who was struck by a falling tree while walking to her house from her car.

Shocking photos of the aftermath show the 74-year-old’s house completely destroyed, with walls torn down, the roof missing, furniture overturned, and just the shell of his home remaining.

Tamborine Mountain resident Len sheltered in his bedroom with his two dogs when a tornado ripped through his home and tore it apart.

Miraculously, the bedroom where Len sheltered with his pets was unscathed - with even the sheets on the bed still neatly made.

Speaking with The Courier-Mail on Thursday, Len said he was overwhelmed by the community’s support in his recovery.

“I’m doing OK, running out of steam now though, starting to get the shakes a bit,” he said.

“We’ve got to the end of salvaging almost everything now.

“But it’s not only about me, there’s a lot of people out there who are suffering, too.”

Scenes of devastation after the freak storm.

Friend Brayden Skerry went to check on Len after the storm and was shocked by what he found.

“I met Len after knocking on his door one rainy day when I seen he had an old car sitting there next to his beautiful old house on the ridge line of Tamborine Mountain,” Brayden said.

“I didn’t hear from him so went to check on him to find his house gone and him sitting with the dogs and a couple of neighbours.”

Len was home when he saw a storm rolling in over the horizon on the evening of Christmas Day.

Mr Latours inspects the damage.

He grabbed his dogs and desperately tried to hold onto them as the roof of his house was ripped off, and waited the storm out.

Thankfully, both Len and the dogs were unscathed, with Mr Skerry saying he was in good spirits despite the carnage.

“Driving up the mountain and seeing the destruction get worse and worse, coming closer to Len’s house weaving between trees, roofs and power lines - we felt sick. Then we seen it completely ruined.

Most of the house was destroyed in the freak storm.

“We jumped out of the car and were glad to see Len smiling and chatting telling the story with his two dogs.”

Mr Skerry and a small team of people helped Len salvage what he could from the wreckage on Wednesday.

“It looked like a war zone. But he and the dogs are okay.”

Mr Latours is insured but has nowhere to live until his house is fixed.

Len’s niece, Karen McGlynn believes her uncle survived for a reason.

“He is a local character,” Ms McGlynn said.

“He used to clean the shopping centre and other jobs around the mountain.

“He really is a good guy.

“Believe that’s why he was he was spared.”

While Len is insured, he now has nowhere to live long-term.

His car was also destroyed in the storm.

Mr Skerry has set up a Go Fund Me for Len to assist in buying a new car and some extra cash to help during the difficult time.

“For now we want to raise funds to help Len through the early stages of this while the clean up takes place,” Mr Skerry said.

“Who knows how long insurance will take.”

Donate to Len’s Go Fund Me here.