In a devastating incident, a 16-year-old Florida girl, Baylee Holbrook, lost her life after being struck by lightning during a hunting excursion with her father in Florida. The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident occurred on a Tuesday when lightning struck a tree, subsequently hitting both Baylee and her father.
Baylee’s father lost consciousness during the strike, and upon regaining consciousness, he discovered that his daughter was not breathing. Willie McKinnon, a close family friend and pastor, revealed that Baylee was a junior at Palatka Jr.-Sr. High School, where she was an enthusiastic cheerleader with a passion for photography. One of her greatest joys in life was hunting with her father.
McKinnon expressed his deep gratitude for the overwhelming support and prayers the community had offered for Baylee. He remarked, “When one of our own is hurting, when one of our own is in need, this community, this county, this town rallies around people like I’ve never seen before.”
The Putnam County School District requested students to pray for Baylee on “See You at The Pole” day, an annual prayer event that took place on Wednesday.
Baylee’s father, Matthew Holbrook, shared a heartfelt tribute to his daughter on Facebook. He wrote, “Baylee Faith Holbrook, you are my best friend. Our 16 years together, you have made me better. You’ve made me a better man. A better father.” He added that handing his daughter to her Heavenly Father was something he never thought he would have to do but acknowledged that she had been preparing him for it. He expressed peace in knowing she was with God and capable of positively impacting many lives.
When the incident occurred, Matthew Holbrook immediately called 911 and began performing CPR on Baylee. She was rushed to HCA Florida Putnam Hospital in Palatka, where she was initially listed in critical condition on Wednesday. Tragically, on Thursday morning, the sheriff’s office received the heartbreaking news that Baylee had “peacefully passed away” while surrounded by her family.
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The sheriff’s office requested that the public keep Baylee’s family in their thoughts and prayers and respect their privacy during this difficult time. Trinity Baptist Church in Palatka also shared the somber news on Facebook, announcing, “At 9:32 this morning, Baylee Holbrook entered into the arms of Jesus.”
