WINTER GARDEN, FL — A man and woman in their 40s were injured when lightning struck as they walked during thunderstorms in Winter Garden earlier this month. Newly released body camera video from the Winter Garden Police Department shows officers and bystanders helping the couple after the strike.
Witnesses told police the couple had been carrying an umbrella when lightning hit it. One woman who was helping them said the sound was so loud that people first thought it had struck a nearby fence instead.
Police video shows bystanders helping before fire crews arrive
The footage shows an officer arriving to find the man and woman lying on the ground while people nearby tried to help. The officer put on gloves and asked the man whether he could hear him, while trying to keep him calm and waiting for the fire department.
The man mumbled in response, indicating that he was awake and able to hear the officer. Police said emergency responders were on the way as bystanders stayed with the couple and continued helping them at the scene.
Woman was initially unconscious after the strike
FOX 35 Orlando reported that both people suffered head injuries in the strike. The woman was initially unconscious, adding to the seriousness of what witnesses described as a terrifying moment during the storm.
Lightning injuries can be unpredictable, and the couple’s experience fits that pattern. The strike happened while they were outside on a walk, and the umbrella appears to have been the point of contact according to the witness account given to police.
Friends launched a GoFundMe as the couple recovered
An update posted through a GoFundMe campaign started by friends just two days after the incident said the couple was stable and recovering. The message said their family was encouraged by the support they had received from friends, church members, school community members, and others.
The update also described the prayers, messages, and acts of kindness as an important source of strength during a difficult time. No additional medical details were provided in the update, but the family’s message suggested the couple had moved beyond the most immediate emergency.
Florida remains the state with the most lightning deaths this year
The Winter Garden injuries came during a year in which lightning has already caused 15 deaths in the United States. Six of those fatalities were in Florida, underscoring how often the state is affected by dangerous storms and lightning-related emergencies.
The most recent Florida death happened Sept. 8 in Celebration, where 20-year-old Matthew Jenkins was struck while walking on a path. Nationally, officials say lightning kills about 20 people each year and injures hundreds more.
How lightning strikes can turn a routine walk into an emergency
The couple’s injuries show how quickly a normal walk can become a medical emergency when thunderstorm conditions move in. In this case, witnesses said the lightning strike was loud enough to be mistaken for a fence being hit, which helps explain the confusion that followed.
Police video, witness accounts, and the later recovery update together paint a clear picture of the incident: the pair were outside, the umbrella was struck, and nearby people rushed to help before emergency crews took over. Officials have not released further details about the long-term extent of their injuries.
Lightning safety lessons reinforced by the Winter Garden case
While this incident happened in central Florida, the warning it carries is familiar to people across the country. Thunderstorms can develop quickly, and anyone outdoors when lightning is nearby faces a real risk of injury, even during an ordinary walk.
The Winter Garden case also highlights the importance of immediate aid from bystanders and first responders. In this instance, quick help from people at the scene and the police officer’s calm response appear to have been critical while the couple waited for the fire department and further medical care.
