Couple in critical condition after lightning strike on popular Central Florida trail
By Justin Schecker, Brandon Hogan
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WINTER GARDEN, Florida (WESH) — Two people who were hospitalized Wednesday evening out of Winter Garden had possibly been struck by lightning, according to the fire department.
They are husband and wife.
Crews responding around 7:25 p.m. to a call of “possible patient struck by lightning and victim down” on West Orange Trail located two people on the ground, one of whom was not breathing, Winter Garden Fire Chief José P. Gainza, Jr. said in a statement.
CPR was initiated and additional rescue was called, Gainza said.
The couple, both in their 40s, were described as critical and were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center, the statement reads.
According to First Warning Meteorologist Cam Tran, there were storms in the vicinity of Winter Garden — as well as seven to nine lightning strikes — at the time firefighters responded to the call on West Orange Trail.
WESH 2 obtained a copy of the 911 call reporting this emergency on the trail.
“We are on the West Orange Trail,” the caller said. “I think I may need medical assistance. There was a couple walking, and they may have gotten hit by lightning or very near lightning.”
The dispatcher later asked the woman to tell her exactly what happened.
“We were all walking and lightning struck,” she said, “they had an umbrella and it struck them and they both collapsed. And the one gentleman is bleeding from his face. Neither of them have come through, but they’re moving and breathing. Wait, is she still breathing?”
While waiting for help to arrive, the caller told dispatch they started doing chest compressions on the woman, but she still wasn’t breathing.
“I’m going to tell you how to give her mouth-to-mouth, okay?” the dispatcher said. “Pinch her nose close and completely cover her mouth with your mouth and blow two regular breaths into her lungs, about one second each.”
About six minutes later, the caller reports that police have arrived.
“What’s it, one in a million that you get struck?” Roberto Serrano said.
Serrano went for a run on Thursday on the West Orange Trail, as he usually does a few times a week.
“Definitely kind of scary,” he said, “especially thinking like I was going to be on here last night and chose not to.”
Serrano is reminding cyclists, joggers and runners there are ways to check the forecast before they hit the trail.
“Definitely, you know, if people don’t take lightning seriously around the area, they might want to now,” he said.
WESH 2 asked the fire chief for an update on the husband and wife’s condition Thursday, but he said he’s unable to do that because of patient privacy.
The names of the husband and wife have not yet been released.
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