Lightning struck and killed a 19-year-old man in a Broward park, police say
A 19-year-old man has died after being struck by lightning in Vista View Park in Davie, police said.
The incident occurred Sunday morning when Davie Police officers responded to a 9-1-1 call reporting a person down, potentially due to a lightning strike.
Upon arrival, officers discovered the victim, identified as Ethan Lawrence from Broward County, dead at the park. Police got the call around 10:24 a.m.
That was right in the middle of a burst of more than 800 lightning strikes reported in Broward County in under 30 minutes, according to WSVN news.
The Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office is assisting with the ongoing investigation.
Lightning strike deaths are rare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are less than one in a million, and almost 90% of all lightning strike victims survive.
However, Florida is known for its high frequency of lightning strikes compared to other areas, earning the title of the “lightning capital” according to the CDC. Over the past 50 years, more than 2,000 people in the state have been injured by lightning.
Authorities urge residents and visitors to exercise caution during stormy weather, especially in outdoor areas such as parks.
