A Florida man whose wife and toddler daughter were killed by a lightning strike recently has implored people to “hold … tight” to their loved ones. Kameron Glasgow made the remark at a weekend gathering honouring the memories of his wife, Kenya, and two-year-old daughter Kennedi, who died on 23 August.
Kenya, 31, and Kennedi were in the driveway of a family member’s house in Margate, a city in the Miami metropolitan area, when a lightning bolt hit them. Both died shortly after arriving at separate hospitals, authorities have stated.
Kameron Glasgow told news station WSVN that he was mere feet away from the strike and experienced some of its effects. Kennedi’s twin sister, Kensli, was inside their family’s parked car nearby and was uninjured.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calculates approximately 37 million lightning strikes in the US annually. However, the CDC estimates an individual’s chances of being struck by lightning are less than one in a million, with almost 90% of victims surviving.
The National Weather Service (NWS) warns that lightning can strike up to 25 miles (40km) away from a storm, even in areas where it is not raining. The NWS advises people to go indoors if they can hear thunder, as this indicates they are close enough to be struck.