A young man interning for the Disney College Program was killed by a lightning strike in Florida earlier this week. Matthew Jenkins, 20, was found unresponsive on a walking trail behind a hotel in Celebration on Tuesday evening, according to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office.
Jenkins had recently moved from Shelby Township, Michigan, to Central Florida to begin the paid internship program, which allows students to work as cast members at Disney World Resort. His father, Jeffrey Jenkins, told Fox that Matthew was training for the Chicago Marathon and frequently ran on Celebration's trails.
Passerby Felipe Costa recounted being on the same trail with his brother when a sudden thunderstorm prompted them to seek shelter. Costa stated that they saw a flash of lightning but did not see where it struck. A storm tracker indicated a lightning strike in the vicinity around 6:25 p.m., close to the time of the incident. Costa later heard bystanders calling for help.
Costa and another individual found Jenkins on the ground. CPR was administered before first responders arrived. Jenkins was transported to a hospital, where he later died despite resuscitation efforts, as confirmed by the Sheriff's Office and the Medical Examiner's report. Hospital staff informed the medical examiner that Jenkins had apparent lightning exit wounds on his feet, according to documents obtained by the New York Post.
Disney released a statement expressing condolences: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Matthew. He had just begun his Disney College Program journey and will always be remembered as part of our Disney community. Our hearts are with his family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time."
Jenkins's death is the fourth lightning fatality in Florida in less than a month. Earlier in September, a father of four was struck while jet skiing near Tampa Bay, and a mother and one of her toddler twins died after being struck while walking in Margate. The Daily Mail also reported on the survival of a couple struck while hiking.
In 2026, the National Weather Service has recorded 14 lightning fatalities in the U.S. Costa returned to the trail where Jenkins collapsed and placed flowers, saying he wanted to leave the spot as a memory.