A 16-year-old Florida girl died when she was suddenly struck by lightning while out hunting with her father, police said.
Baylee Holbrook – an avid hunter and student at Palatka High School – was on her latest trip with her father, Matthew, on Tuesday afternoon when lightning struck a tree next to them in Putnam County, News4JAX reported.
The explosion knocked both father and daughter unconscious. When Matthew woke up he found Baylee not breathing, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office.
Matthew administered CPR on his daughter until paramedics arrived to take her to a trauma center where the teenager died Thursday morning.
“At 9:32 this morning, Baylee Holbrook passed into the arms of Jesus,” Trinity Baptists Church said in a statement, extending its condolences to the family. “Matt, Casey and Kylee thank you for the outpouring of love and support.”
Baylee Holbrook, 16, died after being struck by lightning on Tuesday. Baylee Holbrook/Facebook The teenager was hunting with his father when lightning struck them, knocking them unconscious. Sincerely, Holbrook Family
Baylee’s social media accounts show she is an avid golfer and photographer, but what she loves most is hunting.
His Instagram account is filled with successful alligator, deer, turkey and wild boar hunts he’s enjoyed with his father and friends, with the teenager’s favorite trip centered around turkey hunting season.
“Nothing on earth compares to chasing these birds,” Baylee said in one of her last posts, pointing to a turkey she hunted in March.
Holbrook — here with his father, Matthew — enjoys turkey, alligator, deer and wild boar hunting. Baylee Holbrook/Instagram The teenager was in critical condition for two days before succumbing to her injuries on Thursday morning.Baylee Holbrook/Facebook
Close family friend and pastor Willie McKinnon stated that what Baylee loved most was going into the woods and hunting animals with her father.
“He likes deer hunting, he likes hog hunting, he likes turkey hunting and he likes gator hunting,” McKinnon told First Coast News. “Hunting, fishing, he likes boating, he likes to be in the woods.”
The hunter’s passing came just hours after his classmates and community members gathered for his recovery Wednesday night inside the high school.
Classmates and community members held a vigil for his recovery Wednesday night at Palatka Junior-Senior Middle School. WJXT
Hundreds gathered for a prayer vigil as they shared stories about Baylee, who many friends also described as a Bible-loving teenager who always looked out for them.
“He always wanted to make sure we went to sleep with a Bible verse if we were having a bad day or he would tell me, ‘Hey, it’s going to be okay. It’s okay to not be OK, but God has you,’” friend Kaitlyn Sanders told News4JAX.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
