On Sept. 2, a dramatic lightning strike on the West Orange Trail in Winter Garden left a married couple in their 40s seriously injured. According to the Winter Garden Fire Department, the bolt hit the couple’s umbrella, sending both victims flat on their faces.

Immediate response

Body‑camera footage released by the department shows an officer sprinting to the scene moments after the strike. A nearby witness can be heard describing the event: “They were struck by lightning. Their umbrella was struck by lightning, and they were both flat on their face.”

Emergency personnel quickly assessed the couple’s condition, deeming them critical, and transported them to Orlando Regional Medical Center for advanced medical care.

Hospital care and recovery

Both the husband and wife received intensive treatment at the Orlando Regional Medical Center. After a few days of hospitalization, doctors reported that the couple’s condition had stabilized, allowing them to be discharged and return home.

The swift actions of the first‑responders, combined with the medical team’s care, were credited with saving the couple’s lives. Local residents expressed gratitude for the rapid and professional response that prevented a tragic outcome.

Related incident

Earlier in the week, a separate lightning incident claimed the life of a 20‑year‑old Michigan man near downtown Celebration, just one week after he arrived in Central Florida for the Disney College Program. That fatality underscores the heightened risk of lightning storms in the region during the summer months.

Winter Garden officials continue to remind the public to monitor weather alerts and seek shelter promptly when thunderstorms develop, especially in open outdoor areas such as trails and parks.

Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.