A Florida man whose wife and two-year-old daughter were killed by a lightning strike while he was near them has urged people to “hold tight” to their loved ones. The tragedy occurred on 23 August in Margate, as reported by infohub.kz.
Kameron Glasgow spoke to local media at a candlelight memorial held at an elementary school in Margate over the weekend, honoring his wife Kenya and daughter Kennedi. They died on 23 August after being struck by lightning. Glasgow said he was just feet away from the strike and felt some of its effects, while Kennedi’s twin sister Kensli was inside the family’s parked car nearby and was unharmed.
The incident occurred in Margate, a small city in the Miami metropolitan area. Kenya and Kennedi were in the driveway of a family member’s home when lightning struck them. Both were taken to separate hospitals but died shortly after arrival. Glasgow described the tragedy as the “worst feeling in the world” and spoke of the immense pain of losing his wife and daughter.
On social media, Glasgow wrote: “I just lost my best friend. My daughter Kensli just lost her best friend.” He also expressed gratitude for the community’s support and urged people to “hug your people tight and tell them you love them.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are about 37 million lightning strikes in the US annually. However, the odds of an individual being struck are extremely remote – less than one in a million. The CDC notes that nearly 90% of lightning strike victims survive. The National Weather Service (NWS) warns that lightning can strike up to 25 miles (40 km) from a storm, even in areas where it is not raining. The NWS advises people to go indoors if they hear thunder, as it indicates they are close enough to be struck.