ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – A 16-year-old girl died over a month ago after being struck by lightning while standing under a tree with three of her friends.
Joseph King told FOX 13 that his daughter Ashley died early Monday morning, despite receiving 24-hour care from physicians and nurses.
King stated that the damage to his daughter’s brain was too much for her body to bear. Ashley King’s father confirmed her death on Monday morning, nearly a month after being struck by lightning while standing under a tree in downtown St. Petersburg. This image is courtesy of Joseph King.
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According to St. Petersburg Fire Rescue, crews responded to the corner of 3rd Avenue and Beach Drive at 5:45 p.m. on July 25 and discovered two youths lying on the ground. According to first responders, two teenagers approached them and reported they were also harmed.
Bystanders told FOX 13 that they heard thunder and lightning and then witnessed a slew of ambulances and fire trucks hurry to the site.
When first responders came, they discovered two teenagers lying on the ground, and two others were able to approach them and request assistance.
“From what we know, it did strike the tree, which is a large tree,” St. Petersburg Fire Rescue Operations Chief Richard Gomolak stated. “Those trees are quite old there. Most of us have been there and have an idea of how enormous they are. So, any strike in the general area, along with the rain and damp ground, could be a problem. So, we don’t think it was a direct impact on any one person in particular, but we do believe it hit the region, which caused a problem.”
Following the lightning hit, three of the teenagers were classified as stable at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital in St. Petersburg or Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. Gomolak stated that some of the teens received minor burns.
Ashley, a rising student at Hollins High School, was in critical condition after her father reported that she slipped into cardiac arrest for 15 minutes while receiving treatment. He stated that paramedics were able to detect a pulse once they arrived at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital.
She was eventually transported to Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, where she died a few weeks later.
Ashley King was a rising junior at Hollins High School. This image is courtesy of Joseph King.
Shortly after the lightning hit, King stated that he wanted people to understand that hiding under a tree in a storm is a bad idea.
“We live in Florida.” We are well aware of how quickly storms approach and can come upon us, yet we take the hazard seriously because people get struck by lightning. It’s pretty severe, and I believe we’re lucky. “A lot of people take that for granted,” Gomolak explained.
Gomolak & Fox 13 According to FOX 13 Chief Meteorologist Paul Dellegatto, if you hear thunder, assume there is lightning nearby and seek shelter immediately.
“Lightning can strike seven miles, ten miles away from the parent thunderstorm, so even though you see a thunderstorm in the distance, if you hear thunder, technically you’re in danger of being hit,” Dellegatto instructed.