A Florida couple, Aaron and Clare Walenga, were walking along the West Orange Trail in central Florida on September 2 when they were struck by lightning. The incident occurred shortly after they had dropped their children off at church. Neither spouse heard any warnings of an approaching storm.
Clare Walenga, 43, received CPR from bystanders after being struck, while Aaron Walenga, 48, was hospitalized. Both survived the ordeal due to the intervention of four individuals who were part of a weekly running club and happened to be nearby. Michael Weyand, one of the runners, administered CPR to Clare after noticing she had turned blue and was not breathing. Weyand, who had no prior CPR experience, stated that he acted instinctively.
Aaron Walenga reported being in immense pain and unable to move or assist his wife immediately after the strike. Clare Walenga reportedly took a deep breath just before CPR was to include mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
The couple, residents of Apopka, were hospitalized. Clare sustained a concussion, and Aaron suffered bruises to his face. They expressed deep gratitude to the individuals who intervened, calling their presence and actions miraculous.
A fundraiser established for the couple has raised over $65,000. Relatives noted significant progress in Clare's recovery within two days of the incident, expressing hope and thankfulness as they continue their recuperation.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are less than one in a million, and approximately 90% of victims survive such strikes. The incident occurred amidst a series of recent lightning-related fatalities, including that of Matthew Jenkins, 20, who died days after moving to Florida for the Disney College Program; Steve Matheson, a Utah dad killed while attempting to assist stranded boaters off the Florida coast; and Kenya Glasgow, 31, and her 2-year-old daughter, Kennedi, who were struck in front of their family.