Jesse Watlington: Florida Boy Dies After Being Struck By Lightning

Florida Boy Dies After Lightning Bolt Strikes Him On Football Field

Jesse Watlington, 11, (pictured) was taken off life support Sunday after he was struck by a lightning bolt earlier in the week as he made his way onto a football field.

The Ft. Myers, Fla., middle schooler was running to the South Florida Christian Academy football field with friends on Oct. 3 around 4 p.m. when the bolt struck. It entered his chest and exited through the heel of his foot.

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The child was rushed by paramedics to a local hospital where CPR was administered. He was revived, then airlifted to Tampa General Hospital where he was listed in critical condition. Jesse remained in a coma and on life support until Sunday when his parents made the decision to end it.

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After Jesse passed away, the family took to Facebook to thank the Ft. Myers community for their outpouring of support and prayers: “Our precious little son Jesse is now with our Lord and Saviour Jesus. We would like to thank the thousands of you for all your love, support and prayers! Jesse has touched the lives of literally thousands of people around the World. Thank you all!”

Jesse’s father, Charles, asks that supporters wear his son’s favorite color, purple, on Monday in his memory.

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