Video shows dramatic rescue after couple struck by lightning

Fox - 35 Orlando
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6 Video Views·Sep 12, 2026
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It's now to newly released body camera video showing the frantic and scary moments, frankly,
that first responders rushed to help a couple hit by lightning in Winter Garden.
That couple was simply out for a walk when the lightning struck.
Fox 35's Larissa Leon breaks down the video for us.
Tonight, we're getting a glimpse of those terrifying moments of police helping out that
couple that was struck by lightning.
And I want to warn you, the video that you're going to be seeing is graphic.
We have blurred it.
They were struck by lightning.
Tonight, terrifying new video shows Winter Garden police rushing to help Aaron and Claire
Walinga after they were struck by lightning along the West Orange Trail.
Officers found the man sprawled on the ground with a head injury, grunting in pain, barely
able to respond to first responders.
Stay right there, buddy.
Can you hear me, ma'am?
Can you hear me, sir?
She's not responding.
Can you talk?
She's not responding.
OK.
You're OK, sweetheart.
You're OK.
Just stay right here.
Fire department's coming.
Just keep talking to me.
His wife laying next to him also suffered a head injury and was initially unresponsive.
Witnesses say the strike was so loud, they initially thought a fence was hit.
The Walingas were two of three people hit by lightning within a week in Central Florida.
On Tuesday, 20-year-old Matthew Jenkins was killed by a bolt of lightning on a walking
trail in celebration.
His death is the sixth lightning-related death in Florida this year.
The National Weather Service says Florida is a lightning hotspot, and every storm is
dangerous.
We need to recognize lightning as a threat because it doesn't matter whether it's the
first, the only, or the last lightning strike.
Every cloud-to-ground lightning strike is capable of injuring or killing someone.
The National Weather Service says if the thunder roars, get indoors.
Larissa Leon, Fox 35 News.
