Man Dies From Confirmed Lightning Strike in Celebration
Man Dies From Confirmed Lightning Strike in Celebration
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Key Points
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The incident occurred on a walking path in the 700 block of Bloom Street, behind a hotel in Celebration, with deputies called at approximately 6:25 p.m.
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Witness Spyro Betz said the lightning sounded as if it struck directly overhead: “I heard the big crack of lightning that was like right overhead.” He said he initially thought it had hit a building or the hotel.
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A bystander, Felipe Costa, ran toward Jenkins after hearing the strike, found him on the ground and, along with a woman, began CPR while waiting for emergency responders.
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Florida recorded 100 lightning deaths from 2006 through 2025, the most in the nation, while Michigan recorded nine during the same period, according to the National Lightning Safety Council.
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Jenkins’ father said the family was grateful to the people who tried to save his son after the strike.
Matthew Eric Jenkins, a 20-year-old from Michigan, died Tuesday after being struck by lightning on a walking path in Celebration, Florida, near Walt Disney World. MLive reported that Jenkins was found unresponsive behind a hotel shortly after witnesses heard a loud crack overhead at about 6:25 p.m. He had arrived in Central Florida just days earlier to start the Disney College Program.
Bystanders immediately performed CPR before emergency responders arrived. WFTV reported that Jenkins was taken to Celebration Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The Osceola County medical examiner ruled the death accidental electrocution from the lightning strike — Florida's fourth lightning-related fatality in less than a month.
Witness Describes Overhead Lightning Crack
The strike occurred near 700 Bloom Street behind a hotel in Celebration. Witness Spyro Betz told authorities he heard "the big crack of lightning that was like right overhead." IBTimes reported that Betz initially thought the strike had hit a building or the hotel itself, not realizing someone had been directly hit.
Bystanders Rush to Provide Emergency Care
After hearing the lightning strike, bystander Felipe Costa ran toward Jenkins and found him on the ground. Costa and a woman nearby immediately began performing CPR while waiting for emergency responders to arrive. Their quick action demonstrated the critical importance of immediate care — people struck by lightning do not remain electrically charged, making it safe for rescuers to provide aid.
WFTV noted that Jenkins' father expressed gratitude to those who tried to save his son after the strike.
Florida's Staggering Lightning Death Rate
Jenkins' death marks part of a troubling trend. According to the National Lightning Safety Council, Florida recorded 100 lightning deaths from 2006 through 2025 — far more than any other state. By comparison, Michigan, where Jenkins grew up, recorded only nine deaths during the same 19-year period.
Florida's warm climate and frequent summer thunderstorms create ideal conditions for lightning strikes. Four deaths in less than a month underscore the danger, especially for people outdoors in late afternoon and evening hours when thunderstorms are most active. Experts stress seeking substantial shelter immediately when storms approach rather than waiting for a nearby strike.
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