Mother, 2-year-old daughter killed by lightning in Florida
A thunderstorm rapidly developed over Margate, producing 234 lightning strikes in just 15 minutes, according to the AccuWeather Lightning Network.
First responders attempted life-saving care on a woman who was struck by lightning in Margate, Florida, on Aug. 23. The woman and child did not survive, according to reports.
A mother and her 2-year-old daughter died after they were struck by lightning Sunday afternoon in Margate as a thunderstorm developed rapidly over the South Florida city.
Margate Police and Margate Fire Rescue responded around 2:30 p.m. EDT on Sunday to a report of two people lying on a sidewalk near 7941 NW 1st Street.
Police officers and firefighters immediately began CPR and other lifesaving measures, according to the Margate Police Department. A witness told officers the victim was on the ground for about 10 minutes before first responders arrived.
Body camera video released by the Margate Police Department shows officers and EMTs switching off performing CPR on the woman.
"The caller is advising she's still not safe to touch," dispatch says over the radio.
One of the officers tells a witness, "We can't ma'am. We have to wait because if her body is still charged from the lightning then we run the risk. We're just waiting on fire rescue."
AccuWeather has reached out to the Margate Police Department to clarify if the officer was referring to the lightning victim. Lightning victims being "charged" after being struck is a myth. They are safe to touch because bodies do not store electricity.
Selective focus on blue flashing light on ambulance car of emergency medical service. Warning symbol on road against traffic accident.
The mother, identified as 31-year-old Kenya Glasgow, was taken to North Broward Medical Center in Deerfield Beach. Her daughter was transported with a police escort to Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale.
Both were pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospitals, police said.
“The Margate Police Department extends its deepest condolences to the victims’ family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” the department said.
Storm formed rapidly over Margate, producing hundreds of lightning strikes
AccuWeather’s Lightning Detection Network recorded at least 120 lightning strikes within 10 miles of the location between 2:15 and 2:45 p.m. EDT Sunday.
Of those, 44 were cloud-to-ground strikes, the type capable of causing injuries, starting fires and damaging property. The other lightning strikes remained within the clouds. The most intense lightning activity began at 2:30 p.m., when 100 strikes were detected within 15 minutes. The closest strike was recorded at 2:31 p.m., about 0.1 of a mile from where the mother and daughter were found.
“Just 15 minutes prior to 2:30 p.m. in Margate, it was dry, though there were some thundershowers about 6-10 miles away from Margate, but it was not raining in the town itself,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Peyton Simmers said. “Within 15 minutes, a thunderstorm rapidly developed over Margate and quickly produced a lot of lightning. It is a reminder that lightning can strike up to 10 miles outside of a thunderstorm.”
The lightning data underscores how quickly conditions can turn deadly, even before rain begins or a thunderstorm appears to be directly overhead.
According to the National Lightning Safety Council, the mother and daughter mark the 11th and 12th lightning fatalities across the United States and the third and fourth in Florida this year.
This article was updated to include information from the body camera video released on Sept. 28.
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