Georgia teen Walker Bethune (pictured) died Wednesday afternoon, 11 days after he was struck by lightning on a Florida seaside
A Georgia teen died Wednesday afternoon, 11 days after he was struck by lightning on a Florida Seaside.
The teenager was one in every of 5 folks struck by lightning on seashores in southwest Florida over a 10-day span in July, the Naples Daily News reported.
Walker Bethune, 17, was only a few toes away from his household on Tigertail Seaside, the place they have been vacationing on July 17, when he was struck, in keeping with Marco Island police.
‘Please know that right now’s replace comes with heavy hearts for ALL of us that LOVE Walker,’ his household reported on social media Wednesday night.
‘He handed away peacefully this afternoon, listening to one in every of his favourite Allman Brothers songs, appropriately named, “Soulshine.”’
Police mentioned they arrived on the scene at 3.51pm, shortly after the lightning strike, and noticed Bethune’s father, David, administering CPR on his son, who was unresponsive.
They have been capable of efficiently revive him on the scene.
He was rushed to a neighborhood hospital in close by Naples after which airlifted to a different hospital in Miami.
Bethune was with household on Tigertail Seaside on July 17 when he was struck by lightning that afternoon
Bethune was a senior at Stratford Academy in Macon, Georgia, the varsity reported. He was one in every of 5 folks struck on seashores in southwest Florida over a 10-day span, and the one one to have died to this point
On Monday, nevertheless, good friend Julie Chandler reported that Bethune’s mind had begun to swell.
‘Please proceed in BIG BOLD FIERCE prayer for Walker’s mind and swelling. The aim was to maintain him very calm and steady right now, which was achieved,’ she wrote.
Bethune was a senior on the Stratford Academy in Macon Georgia, the varsity reported on Fb.
‘Tonight we acquired the heartbreaking information that Walker Bethune handed away from his accidents sustained throughout his tragic accident,’ the varsity wrote. ‘You’ve got fervently prayed for Walker and his household during the last 11 days and we ask that you don’t cease. Walker was cherished by all inside our college household and we elevate up his household and buddies throughout this unbearably troublesome time.’
Bethune’s favourite track was ‘sunshine’ by the Allman Brothers Band, his household mentioned
Bethune’s faculty additionally reported his dying
He was one of many 5 individuals who have been struck by lightning on seashores in southwest Florida over a 10-day span in July, the Naples Daily News reported.
On Monday, a 12-year-old Woman and 38-year-old man have been struck on a seaside in North Naples, and are in steady situation, in keeping with the outlet.
Moreover, a married couple visiting from South Carolina have been struck on Saturday in Sanibel.
Their church recognized the 2 as Brent and Kristen Jerome. Brent stays in vital situation.
Bethune’s would be the fourth lightning fatality in the US in 2021, in keeping with the Nationwide Climate Service, and the second to have taken place on a seaside.
On common, round 49 individuals are killed by lightning every year within the U.S. with tons of extra injured, in keeping with the Nationwide Climate Service
It is usually probably the primary to have taken place in Florida this 12 months, though the company has not up to date its tally since July 20.
On June 12, a 15-year-old woman visiting together with her household from Alabama was killed by lightning whereas swimming within the waters off of Tybee Island, Georgia.
She was hit round 2.30pm that Saturday, and rushed to a neighborhood hospital the place she was pronounced useless.
On common there are 49 folks killed by lightning within the US every year.
In 2020, 17 folks have been killed.
A lightning warning was declared on Marco Island at 2.15pm the day Bethune was struck, Bob Dugan chief govt officer and president of Thor Guard, a lighting warning system in southwest Florida, informed the Naples Day by day Information reported.
The warning ended at 4.03pm, a bit greater than 10 minutes after police and EMS arrived on the scene.
‘That was the final strike from the storm,’ Dugan mentioned.
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