A honeymoon in Florida took a tragic turn when a 29-year-old man from Colorado was fatally struck by lightning. The man was visiting the Sunshine State with his newlywed wife when the incident occurred on a beach in Volusia County. He was standing in shallow water when he was hit by the lightning bolt on Friday afternoon.
The man was rushed to a local hospital in a critical condition, but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries. The news was confirmed by Tammy Malphurs, the Director of Volusia County Beach Safety, on Monday. According to Malphurs, the storm that caused the lightning strike was still miles away from the beach, making the incident an extremely rare occurrence.
Eyewitnesses at the scene described the weather as clear with blue skies, and the storm seemed to be far off in the distance. The sudden strike was unexpected and shocking to those present. The man who lost his life in this unfortunate incident was identified as Jake Rosencranz, a resident of Colorado.
Volusia County’s Sheriff, Mike Chitwood, expressed his condolences on social media. He lamented the tragic loss of a young man who was on a delayed honeymoon with his wife. Chitwood extended his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved wife, acknowledging the diligent efforts of the lifeguards, EMS team, and ER staff who tried to save Rosencranz.
Rosencranz was described as a “true Coloradan” by his friends and colleagues. He was enjoying the beach at New Smyrna around noon when the fatal bolt struck him. Malphurs confirmed that Rosencranz was in ankle-deep water when the lightning hit him, leading to his death the following morning.
In addition to this tragic incident, city officials confirmed that two other individuals were indirectly struck by lightning on the same day at the Venetian Bay Golf Course in New Smyrna Beach. However, these victims did not require hospital treatment.