A 16-year-old girl has died after she was struck by lightning while hunting with her father in Florida, officials say.

Baylee Holbrook and her father had been hunting on Tuesday when lightning “struck a tree, hitting them,” the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said.

Her father lost consciousness and when he awoke he found his daughter was not breathing.

He called 911 and began CPR, and the teen was transported to HCA Florida Putnam Hospital in Palatka, where she was stabilized enough to be taken to a trauma center. She had been listed in critical condition on Wednesday.

On Thursday, the sheriff’s office said it learned that Baylee had “peacefully passed away” that morning surrounded by her family.

  • Fredselfish@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    81
    ·
    1 year ago

    I am sad for her death. What horrible way to die. As a father of a 16 year old I hope this doesn’t happen to my kid.

    • Jay
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      29
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      No parent should have to suffer the loss of their own child, it takes a piece of your heart with them.

      • drekly@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        8
        ·
        1 year ago

        My dad died when I was 16 and that’s not great either.

        But looking at that smile reminds me of my 1 year old daughter’s smile. I live to make her smile. I can’t imagine looking at that smile every day for 16 years and then one day I can’t.

      • Fredselfish@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        9
        arrow-down
        7
        ·
        1 year ago

        No information in the article about weather conditions. I was curious if this tragedy could have been prevented.

          • Sir_Kevin@lemmy.dbzer0.com
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            3
            arrow-down
            2
            ·
            1 year ago

            It looks like she hunts with a bow, which may have been a factor if it was conductive. There have been scattered storms in FL this week as well. Lightning can travel over a mile from where it’s storm is to where it touches down so even in clear skies it can strike you. Florida is also the lightning capital of america.

            • Elderos@lemmings.world
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              8
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              1 year ago

              Metal does not attracts lighting. The danger is elevation. The bolt stroke a tree and she was likely shocked because the ground itself became conductive. In a thunderstorm don’t stand near trees, don’t lay down, you get the fuck out and find shelter or a non-elevated area away from trees and elevated structures.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      22
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      My daughter asked me what my biggest fear was the other day. I said, “being alive after you die.”

    • Stuka@lemmy.ml
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      11
      arrow-down
      5
      ·
      1 year ago

      I mean all things considered it was either painless or painful for a few moments at most.

      Not the worst way to go.

          • Stuka@lemmy.ml
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            6
            ·
            1 year ago

            That was my assumption. Not breathing for an unknown amount of time following a lightning strike. I imagine it would be noteworthy for the article if she regained consciousness and later died.

        • Stuka@lemmy.ml
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          8
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          ‘Horrible way to die’ refers to method of death. It has nothing to do with age.

      • BURN@lemmy.world
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        13
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        I don’t necessarily condone it, but let’s be real, this incident had nothing to do with hunting. This essentially adds up to a freak accident

        • Jay
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          10
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          Hunting may seem a little cruel but depending on the circumstances very necessary. Some animals overpopulate and hunting can keep animal populations manageable, in check, and overall much healthier.

          But fuck trophy hunters.

          • gnygnygny@lemm.ee
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            1 year ago

            Earth was waiting hunters since centuries to regulate animals populations