An eight-year-old girl died after being struck by lightning while playing in her garden in rural Serena, Illinois, on Friday evening. Kinslee Tschida was in the process of moving indoors with her family after hearing thunder when the lightning strike occurred.
Her grandfather, Chris Scheib, told WGN that the family had begun heading inside when the storm rolled in, but Kinslee was struck before reaching shelter, which was approximately 20 feet away. He described the event as instantaneous, with no apparent warning.
"It came right in between the tree," Scheib recounted. "Kinslee was just climbing off, and all of a sudden, in an instant. I mean, there was no warning, and there was no lightning."
According to Scheib, his daughter-in-law witnessed the event and described seeing her daughter "in sparks." Kinslee's uncle, who was familiar with lightning detection, had urged the family to go inside upon hearing the thunder.
Kinslee was transported to OSF St Elizabeth Hospital in Ottawa, where she was pronounced dead. The LaSalle County Coroner's Office determined the cause of death to be injuries sustained from the lightning strike.
Family members remembered Kinslee as a "bright light" who loved to sing, dance, and bring joy to others. A GoFundMe page for the family described her as having an "unforgettable laugh" and a "heart far bigger than her small frame."
Kinslee was set to begin third grade and was known as the "Queen Bee" of Rutland Grade School. Her obituary highlighted her love for singing, dancing, playing Roblox, riding in tractors with her grandfather, and playing cards with her grandmother. She also enjoyed playing with her cousins and spending time with her animals.
She is survived by her mother, Meghan, her father, Jared, and several grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and eight cousins. A funeral service was scheduled for Tuesday.
