A Florida man lost consciousness and when he awoke, found the lifeless body of his 16-year-old daughter laying beside him.
The pair were hunting in Putnam County, just east of Gainesville when lightning struck the tree they were hunting from. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the father called 911 and began administering CPR on his daughter, Baylee Holbrook. When deputies arrived on the scene, they took over the life-saving measures until rescue teams arrived.
The teen was transported to CA Florida Putnam Hospital, where she was stabilized enough to be taken to a trauma center. There she remains in critical condition.
Students, faculty, community members and deputies joined together around the flagpole Wednesday morning at Palatka Junior-Senior High School where Baylee attends school, to pray for the teen’s recovery.
“She has proven a fighter and our prayers extend to her, her family and friends,” the Sheriff’s Office wrote in a post on Facebook. “We ask those who feel so inclined also include the family, as well as our dispatchers and those who responded last night to save this young woman’s life, in their prayers.”
An abnormally stormy week in the Sunshine State has caused numerous storms to pop up around the state. The Sheriff’s Office continues to caution residents about the rain, thunder and lightning that are forecasted to continue for the remainder of the week.
Update: The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Thursday afternoon that Baylee had unfortunately died. Our prayers are extended to the friends and family of the Holbrook family.
