ST. LOUIS – Mark Lindquist, whose against-the-odds story of survival and heroism in the Joplin tornado touched people around the world, got some good news Monday: The insurance company that initially denied his medical claim has agreed to pay.

Lindquist, 51, was hurt while trying to protect group home residents during the May 22 twister. Lindquist and a co-worker placed mattresses on top of three middle-aged men with Down syndrome in an effort to protect them from the tornado, even climbing atop the mattresses for added weight.

The group home residents died and Lindquist was in a coma for nearly two months, broke every rib, lost most of his teeth and suffered other catastrophic injuries.

Lindquist’s job paid barely above minimum wage and he couldn’t afford medical insurance.

He sought workers’ compensation, claiming he was injured on the job. His company’s workers’ compensation provider, Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, denied the claim in June “based on the fact that there was no greater risk than the general public at the time you were involved in the Joplin tornado,” according to a letter from a claims adjuster.

The decision was devastating because Lindquist’s medical bills already are more than $2.5 million, and rising, his sister, Linda Lindquist Baldwin said last week.

But on Monday, a day after an Associated Press story, Accident Fund Insurance Company of America announced it was changing course.

“Upon further review of the case, and receiving additional information on the facts involved in this situation, Accident Fund believes the appropriate decision is to honor Mr. Mark Lindquist’s claim for worker’s compensation benefits,” said Mike Britt, president of the Lansing, Mich.-based insurance company. “We are committed to working with Mr. Lindquist to ensure he receives all the benefits to which he is entitled and helping him to recover from his injuries.”