Michigan man hit, killed by possible lightning strike in Florida: Sheriff's office

CELEBRATION, Fla. - An apparent lightning strike along a walking path in Celebration has claimed the life of a 20-year-old Michigan man, according to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.

Investigators identified the victim Wednesday as Matthew Eric Jenkins, 20, of Shelby Township, Michigan, after working with federal law enforcement. His parents have been notified.

The backstory:

The Osceola County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded about 6:25 p.m. Tuesday to a report of an unresponsive man on a walking path behind a hotel in the 700 block of Bloom Street. 

Bystanders began performing CPR before first responders arrived. Jenkins was taken to AdventHealth Celebration, where he was pronounced dead.

Investigators said a lightning strike had been observed in the area around the time of the incident.

What they're saying:

Spyro Betz, who was walking nearby moments before the storm intensified, said he had just reached his car when he heard a powerful lightning strike.

"I heard the big crack of lightning that was like right overhead," Betz said.

Betz initially believed the lightning had struck a nearby building.

"When I heard the lightning strike I expected it hit the building or something like that or hit the hotel, I didn't expect it to hit a person," Betz said.

According to FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar, a lightning strike recorded around 6:25 p.m. may have been the one witnesses heard. Deputies said Jenkins was struck while walking along the path.

Betz said the tragedy underscores the dangers of Florida's frequent summer thunderstorms.

"It's an absolute shame. I mean thunderstorms happen here on the daily, especially in the summertime. You don't expect something like that to happen," Betz said.

What's next:

The sheriff's office said homicide detectives are awaiting the medical examiner's determination of the official cause of death. The investigation remains ongoing.

Osceola County NewsCrime and Public Safety