Putnam County, Florida – A 16-year-old girl tragically lost her life after being struck by lightning during a hunting expedition with her father in Florida on Tuesday, according to local authorities.
The teenager, Baylee Holbrook, was critically injured when a lightning bolt hit a tree near her and her father, Matthew Holbrook, during their hunting trip. The incident left Matthew unconscious, and upon regaining consciousness, he found his daughter unresponsive. He immediately called 911 and started performing CPR until the arrival of the rescue team.
The first responders on the scene were deputies who continued life-saving efforts until the arrival of the rescue team, who then transported the teenager to HCA Florida Putnam Hospital. Despite being stabilized and transferred to a trauma center, Baylee’s condition remained critical. She succumbed to her injuries on Thursday morning.
Baylee, a student at Palatka Jr-Sr High School, was remembered as an avid hunter and a passionate photographer. Her social media accounts were filled with pictures of her successful hunting trips, capturing alligators, deer, turkeys, and boars. She was particularly fond of turkey hunting season, often sharing her experiences on her Instagram account.
The Putnam County School District expressed their support for Baylee and her family in a Facebook post on Wednesday. Students at her school were asked to wear green on Thursday as a sign of continued support for her and her family. A vigil was held at the high school gymnasium on Wednesday night, where hundreds gathered to pray for Baylee.
The incident occurred amidst a surge in lightning strikes in the area, according to the sheriff’s office. They issued a reminder to the community about the forecast predicting several more days of increased rain, thunder, and lightning, emphasizing that lightning can strike up to 10 miles away from any rainfall.