A 16-year-old girl has died after she was struck by lightning while hunting with her father in Florida, officials say.
Baylee Holbrook and her father had been hunting on Tuesday when lightning “struck a tree, hitting them,” the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said.
Her father lost consciousness and when he awoke he found his daughter was not breathing.
He called 911 and began CPR, and the teen was transported to HCA Florida Putnam Hospital in Palatka, where she was stabilized enough to be taken to a trauma center. She had been listed in critical condition on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the sheriff’s office said it learned that Baylee had “peacefully passed away” that morning surrounded by her family.
I am sad for her death. What horrible way to die. As a father of a 16 year old I hope this doesn't happen to my kid.
No parent should have to suffer the loss of their own child, it takes a piece of your heart with them.
My dad died when I was 16 and that's not great either.
But looking at that smile reminds me of my 1 year old daughter's smile. I live to make her smile. I can't imagine looking at that smile every day for 16 years and then one day I can't.
No information in the article about weather conditions. I was curious if this tragedy could have been prevented.
They were calling for thunderstorms that day, (tuesday) but it really still comes down to bad luck/timing. https://www.timeanddate.com/weather/@4167482/historic
It looks like she hunts with a bow, which may have been a factor if it was conductive. There have been scattered storms in FL this week as well. Lightning can travel over a mile from where it's storm is to where it touches down so even in clear skies it can strike you. Florida is also the lightning capital of america.
Metal does not attracts lighting. The danger is elevation. The bolt stroke a tree and she was likely shocked because the ground itself became conductive. In a thunderstorm don't stand near trees, don't lay down, you get the fuck out and find shelter or a non-elevated area away from trees and elevated structures.
They were probably in a tree stand. Fifteen foot metal ladder with a seat at the top. Basically a lightning rod.
Electricity takes the path of least resistance. Simple as that.
My daughter asked me what my biggest fear was the other day. I said, "being alive after you die."
I mean all things considered it was either painless or painful for a few moments at most.
Not the worst way to go.
Did you read the article? She died two days after the lightning strike.
No way for us to know, but it's likely she was unconscious/braindead for those two days.
That was my assumption. Not breathing for an unknown amount of time following a lightning strike. I imagine it would be noteworthy for the article if she regained consciousness and later died.
Maybe if she was 80, but at 16 she lost out on most of her expected life.
'Horrible way to die' refers to method of death. It has nothing to do with age.
This is one of the reasons why I oppose hunting
I don’t necessarily condone it, but let’s be real, this incident had nothing to do with hunting. This essentially adds up to a freak accident
Hunting may seem a little cruel but depending on the circumstances very necessary. Some animals overpopulate and hunting can keep animal populations manageable, in check, and overall much healthier.
But fuck trophy hunters.
Earth was waiting hunters since centuries to regulate animals populations
https://www.mountainguides.com/pdf/prodeals/NOLS_Backcountry_Lightening_Safety_Guidelines.pdf in case anyone finds themselves in the wilderness with lightning in the air.
Dude, this needs to be its own post. What a fascinating read.
I have no idea where to post it, but feel free to take it. NOLS has a lot of great outdoor safety and first aid stuff, great source of content.
Thank you for the link! A must read for everyone.
Gnarly way to go dude. Hope it was over before she realised anything.
It doesn't sound like it considering they had her stable for a bit in the hospital before she died.
So was she struck by lightning or by a tree that was struck by lightning?
Presumably both? Lightning could jump from the tree to people under it
I think the tree fell on them, I don't think they were burned at all. I could be completely wrong but that's how I read it.
Fucking hell
As awful as this is, why is this news? Uncaused tragedies happen, everyone knows this. Spreading the word about this on the internet is just spreading misery with no recourse.
What exactly is news, to you, if not recent happenings?
People say this drives clicks, but this is exactly the kind if story a local newspaper would have published fifty years ago too.
A local newspaper. This is relevant to the people who knew her or live in her community. My heart goes out to her friends and family of course, but she ultimately holds zero relevance to me or the vast majority of people here.
Clicks is just the modern equivalent of subscriptions. People 50 years ago subscribed to newspapers to see this kind of stuff.
Would you rather see another close-up image of majorie Taylor Greens horse face?
A lot of news here is just weird niche thigs that happens in america
Used to be r/offbeat and not r/news material.
It’s unusual enough to be interesting to people.
Or its a reminder of our mortality, and that anytime something random can happy to cause us to lose our lives. This means we have to use the time we have with greater purpose because we don't know when it will end. I can allow us to get closer to those we love and let them know it so should something like this happen to us we'll know they know we loved them.
I'd rather not be reminded of my mortality, thanks.
Yeah, now I'm just sad. I guess it tells people to stop being silly and go inside when there is lightning.
That's not always an option, especially if you're in the middle of nowhere and get caught in a storm.
A slightly above average looking white woman died. That gets clicks and is the reason the article exists.
Same reason there are so many stories about missing white women with moderately attractive photos, but you don't see many for non-white women, men, or less attractive white women.
"Handing you to your Heavenly Father today is something I thought I’d never do but something you’ve been preparing me to do all along. I have peace knowing your with HIM and you are able to change so many peoples lives," he wrote.
Change so many people's lives? What is he talking about?
Let him cope
Fair
Magic sky powers.
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The hunter has become the hunted.
Wow!
Damn you THOR!
Wow!
Damn you THOR!Careful Doc!
Wow, been a while…
Thank you for that!
Great to hear people are helping each other in the worst of times!
“When one of our own is hurting, when one of our own is in need, this community, this county, this town rallies around people like I’ve never seen before,” McKinnon said.
