Man on honeymoon dies after being struck by lightning on Florida beach
A newlywed man visiting Florida on his honeymoon recently died after reportedly being struck by lightning while standing in shallow water with a blue sky over him.
The death of Jake Rosencranz, 29, in New Smyrna Beach was considered unusual because it is 'rare' for someone to be struck by lightning from a storm that is several miles away, local beach safety director Tammy Malphurs told Florida news outlet WKMG. Though that occasionally happens, Rosencranz, of Colorado, was the first person to be killed by lightning in Florida in 2025.
His death nonetheless served as a grim reminder that Florida in 2024 led the US in both lightning fatalities (12) and strikes per square mile (76), according to a report from the environmental technology provider AEM.
Related: Florida dad dies after helping save his daughter from drowning on Father's Day
Rosencranz had been in New Smyrna Beach with his wife, Leah, on a delayed honeymoon, local sheriff Mike Chitwood said on a social media post. While standing in ankle-deep water under clear skies, lightning struck him at about 12.30pm on 20 June, Malphurs's agency reportedly said.
'There was not a storm immediately over us,' Malphurs told a Denver Post reporter. 'This lightning bolt came from a storm several miles away.'
Emergency responders performed CPR on him and took him to a hospital in critical condition. He died there on 21 June, authorities said.
On social media, Chitwood wrote 'in one terrifying second everything changed' for Rosencranz and his wife. 'They were visiting our beaches to celebrate their marriage,' Chitwood added. He also wrote that Rosencranz 'should have had many … anniversaries with her for years to come'.
'Sending sincere condolences to this young woman on behalf of all of us … who were hoping against hope that the diligent efforts of [first responders and hospital doctors] would bring him back to her,' Chitwood said.
Rosencranz – who was originally from Boston – graduated from the University of Denver in 2019, according to his LinkedIn page as well as an online biography. He then worked for a Denver construction company before working as a project manager for the Behm Consulting Group in the same city.
His biography at the Behm Consulting Group's website said he enjoyed skiing, golf and exploring the Rocky mountains with his wife and their dog, Bonnie. The biography listed his favorite quote as: 'When's the best time complete a task? Yesterday.'
'Not sure who said this, but my wife reminds me often,' Rosencranz's biographical page said.
In a statement on Tuesday, Behm Consulting Group's president, Nick Behm, said: 'Jake Rosencranz was a great friend and beloved colleague.'
'We are heartbroken over this terrible loss,' Behm's statement said. 'We are sending love and support to his wife, Leah, and his family. He will be missed.'
As of Wednesday morning, supporters of Rosencranz's family had donated more than $25,000 to a GoFundMe campaign dedicated to helping Leah as she grapples with having suddenly lost her husband.
The National Weather Service generally considers it highly unlikely for most people to be struck by lightning. People who live for about 80 years have one-in-15,300 odds of enduring such an experience.
But 20 June in New Smyrna Beach evidently was another matter altogether. Rosencranz was among three people to be hit by lighting there after noon that day.
The other two were golfers who were indirectly struck by lightning at the Venetian Bay course, the local fire department said to WKMG.
Neither golfer struck needed to be hospitalized, the agency said to the outlet.
In a post published after Rosencranz's death, meteorologist Matt Devitt of Florida's WINK news station said hearing thunder is a sign that one is 'close enough to potentially get struck' by lightning.
That is the case even if lightning is not visible.
'When thunder roars, go indoors,' Devitt's post said, invoking an oft-used meteorological safety adage.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
38 minutes ago
- CBS News
How to stay safe while driving during flood watches
Follow these tips to stay safe in case of a flash flood while driving Follow these tips to stay safe in case of a flash flood while driving Follow these tips to stay safe in case of a flash flood while driving Rain in the Twin Cities on Wednesday left several streets underwater and cars stuck. Flooding is the second-deadliest weather event over the past 10 years, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Most of the Twin Cities metro and parts of central Minnesota are under a flood watch until 7 a.m. Thursday. "It was pretty crazy there for a moment," said Mario Villella. "I noticed my car coming to a stop and then it kind of just stalled and wouldn't start again." Villella, who was driving near Lake Harriet, was okay, though his car wasn't left in the best shape. It's a lesson that AAA Minneapolis says you should avoid at all costs. "There's no way to tell how deep standing water is on flooded roads," said Brynna Knapp of AAA Minneapolis. "Driving through it can really cause your vehicle to stall and cause severe damage to the vehicle." Another danger during the downpours is hydroplaning. "Slow down and avoid hard braking," Knapp said when asked about safety tips. "Avoid turning sharply as well." Driving experts say, if possible, the best is to avoid being behind the wheel during downpours. Rachel Syring was out and about after driving to the airport. "It was definitely scary though with the flooding. I dropped my partner off at the airport and they closed off a couple of streets," said Syring. Experts say the most important takeaway is to watch out for puddles. "I think I kind of underestimated how much water was over here," said Villella.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Mon Commission not getting swept up in Richard water issues
Jun. 25—MORGANTOWN — "We're frustrated, " Monongalia County Commission President Jeff Arnett said Wednesday, "But we're not giving up." Arnett's comments were directed to Richard-area resident and property owner Kevin Dailey. The commission's stated frustration is a result of its inability to address water issues in the small, unincorporated area that have been brought before the body periodically for years — and almost weekly for months now. The problem, commissioners have repeated time and again, is the county has very little standing outside the involvement of Floodplain Administrator Harold "Hap " Sperringer. They see it primarily as an issue between private landowners with possible involvement necessary from the West Virginia Division of Highways in regard to the DOH's stormwater infrastructure along WV-7 (Earl L. Core Road). Dailey presented the commission with a petition including the names of 11 Richard area property owners requesting an evening work session with representatives of the county and relevant state agencies. The commission seemed reluctant to accommodate that specific request. During last week's meeting, Commissioner Tom Bloom expressed frustration with Chad Matheny — who runs a business and rental properties in Richard — over his belief that Matheny had misrepresented himself to the DOH as somehow speaking on behalf of the commission. Matheny said that was not the case. Further, Matheny said he was told by a DOH representative that the problems lie solely with property owners, not the state. That, he said, is also not accurate. "This morning, I got up early after the rain. It had stopped raining. I have video footage of several drains that are totally stagnant. There's no water going through them whatsoever, " Matheny previously said, referencing DOH storm drops. While Dailey and Matheny are at odds over the particulars of what's causing all the water to collect in Richard, they both seem to believe the DOH has a role to play in fixing it. And they're both getting similar responses when asking for assistance from the commission. "We have beat the drum on this to anyone that would listen. At one point we had a representative from DOH. We had Hap [Sperringer ] there at a meeting, and we're not giving up on the issue, " Arnett said. "But Commissioner Bloom is right in that we're limited in what we can do. What we can do is bring, or at least request, the parties that can do something come to the table. And Hap is doing a good job trying to coordinate the thing and get help where he can. He's reaching out to different entities — DEP, DOH — trying to get somebody to come in and take ownership." In other news, the commission canceled its July 16 regular meeting.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
6 dead, 2 missing after boat capsizes on Lake Tahoe
Six people died, two people were hospitalized and two others remain missing after a boat capsized on Lake Tahoe Saturday night. Just before 5 p.m., the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office received multiple reports of a capsized boat carrying 10 people near D.L. Bliss State Park. The lake was reportedly experiencing large swells and waves were reaching 6 to 8 feet high. Witnesses told South Tahoe Now that around 3 p.m., the winds suddenly picked up, creating dangerous conditions on the waters. Local agencies, along with the U.S. Coast Guard and California State Parks, responded to the lake where witnesses reported seeing a group of people in the water near the overturned vessel. Six people, identified only as adults, were found dead. Two survivors were rescued from the water and transported to a local hospital. Two others remain unaccounted for on Saturday night, Coast Guard officials said. Conditions on the lake were harsh, the Sacramento Bee reported, with 30-knot winds, an air temperature of 38 degrees and a wind chill that was near freezing, according to National Weather Service data. There are reports the boat was a Chris-Craft, but authorities have not confirmed that detail. The circumstances surrounding the deadly incident remain under investigation. No further details, including the victims' names, were released. The sheriff department's Search and Rescue team, along with a Dive Team, will return to the area on Sunday morning to resume search operations. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
