A mother and her two-year-old daughter were killed by a lightning strike on August 23 in Margate, Florida, prompting horrified bystanders to inundate police with urgent pleas for help. Kenya Glasgow, 31, and her daughter, Kennedi, were struck by lightning just before 2:30 p.m. while walking on the sidewalk.
A resident called 911 after discovering the mother and child. Audio from the dispatch calls, obtained by NBC South Florida, captured the distress of callers. "Oh my God, somebody just got struck by lightning!" one woman exclaimed. Another caller reported, "A lady and her baby just got struck by lightning. They're down."
Officers from the Margate Police Department and Margate Fire Rescue responded to the scene and immediately began CPR. Despite their life-saving efforts, both Kenya Glasgow and Kennedi were pronounced deceased shortly after arriving at local hospitals. Police stated that the victims had burn marks and appeared to be emanating smoke.
Kenya Glasgow's husband, Kameron Glasgow, who was feet away from the incident, described the moments after the strike. He recounted feeling the aftershock from the ground and then seeing his wife and daughter lifeless. The family had just arrived at his aunt's house when the sudden thunderstorm broke out.
Kennedi's twin sister, Kensli, was still inside the vehicle at the time of the incident. Kameron Glasgow expressed his grief on social media, noting that his daughters would now grow up without each other and that he would live without his wife, his "best friend."
Thunderstorms are common in southern Florida, particularly during the summer rainy season. However, fatal lightning strikes are rare. Residents in the area reported that the storm escalated quickly, with one lightning strike being powerful enough to shake furniture in their homes.