Florida man aged just 19 dies ‘after being struck by lightning’

A young man in Florida was killed by lightning on Sunday, according to his family.

Ethan Lawrence, 19, was found unresponsive at Vista View Park in Davie, about 11 miles southwest of Fort Lauderdale.

The recent high school graduate was at the park running, which was his passion, his father Patrick Lawrence said on Facebook.

‘My heart is broken. Our 19 year old son Ethan has passed,’ the grieving father wrote.

‘He was out doing what he loved, running and was struck by lightning in Vista View Park on Sunday. 

‘Pray for him and my family. We will miss him and never forget the amazing 19 years he gave us. I will never stop loving you big guy!’ 

The park had been closed on Sunday for bad weather. 

Police found Lawrence’s body after receiving a 911 call about someone who was down and may have been struck by lightning during the storm, NBC 6 reported. 

Lawrence had been a competitive Division 1 cross country runner in high school.

He was a freshman at Jacksonville University. 

Sarah Ramsey Perry, who knew him and his family, wrote a tribute for him on Facebook.

She said: Ethan Lawrence, a beautiful, smart, athletic, wonderful young man lost his life today. He was out running…. doing something he absolutely loved when he got struck by lightning. 

‘Losing a child Is the absolutely worst pain a mother can endure!

‘I know Ethan’s mother Lourdes. She is an amazing woman and a great mom. Her kindness, love and support doing the worst time in my life meant the world to me. I’m asking you all to say prayers for her, Ethan and her family now to help her through this most heartbreaking time in her life…’