How a heroic nine-year-old saved his parents from trapped car after tree crashed down on them during Oklahoma tornado

A heroic nine-year-old boy managed to escape from a wrecked truck and rescued his parents when tornadoes battered Oklahoma over the weekend.

At least twenty-two tornadoes are known to have touched down in Oklahoma over the weekend, killing at least four people and injuring dozens.

Wayne and Lindy Baker, along with their son Branson, were driving to a friend's storm shelter on Saturday when an EF4 tornado picked up their truck and tossed it into the trees, reported KTVT.

The parents were severely injured, but brave Branson was able to get out of the mangled vehicle and frantically run for help in the darkness - with only lightning flashes to guide his way.

'The only way he found his way back is lightning strikes. Every time there was a lightning strike, it would light up the road. He ran as fast as he could, as hard as he could,' the boy's uncle, Johnny Baker, told the local news station.

Branson Baker (pictured), 9, escaped from a wrecked truck and rescued his parents when tornadoes battered Oklahoma over the weekend

Wayne and Lindy Baker were driving to a friend's storm shelter on Saturday with their son when an EF4 tornado picked up their truck and tossed it into the trees

The parents were severely injured, but Branson was able to get out of the mangled vehicle and ran for help

'He probably made a mile in 10 minutes, and that's pretty impressive for a little kid.'

The nine-year-old made it to a neighbor's house and brought him back to the scene to rescue his parents.

Wayne and Lindy, who both suffered broken backs, necks and ribs, are recovering in the intensive care unit at OU Medical Center.

Wayne lost part of a finger, and his sternum and arm were broken. Lindy has a punctured lung, and her jaw and right hand were broken. 

'The last thing Branson told them was "Mom, Dad, please don't die. I'll be back,"' the uncle said. 

'[Branson said] "My Superman was trapped,"' according to his uncle. 'So, he had to become his Superman and go do what he had to go do. That’s exactly what he said: "I had to save my parents."'

A GoFundMe set up for the family said, 'Branson is small, but he is so mighty, he is a hero. You think all the time that children are destined to do great things, but Branson has already started on his greatness.'

According to the National Weather Service, the EF4 tornado that the Baker's got caught in was the first of that intensity in the state since 2016.

Oklahoma was one of the hardest hit states alongside Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Texas during the sweep of storms.

Wayne and Lindy (pictured), who both suffered broken backs, necks and ribs, are recovering in the intensive care unit at OU Medical Center

Overall four people in the state died, including a baby, sixty-two people suffered cuts or were pierced, seventy-seven were injured after a fall, seven had poison injuries, fifty-nine were struck by or against something and fifty-six were injuries while out on the road, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt said at a press conference in Sulphur on Sunday, 'you just can't believe the destruction. It seems like every business downtown has been destroyed.'

Stitt also issued a statement Sunday morning: 'My prayers are with those who lost loved ones as tornadoes ripped through Oklahoma last night.

'Thank you to Oklahoma Emergency Management and those who have worked through the night to keep Oklahomans safe and have worked to clear debris and assess damage.'

Stitt has also declared a state of emergency in 12 counties as crews work to clear debris and assess damage from the severe storms that tore down power lines.