Florida girl, 16, and her father struck by lightning while hunting: Teen dies surrounded by family

Florida girl, 16, and her father struck by lightning while hunting: Teen dies surrounded by family

A teen girl who was struck by lightning Wednesday while hunting with her father has died at a Florida hospital, authorities say.

The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that Baylee Holbrook, 16, died Thursday morning “surrounded by her family.”

The sheriff’s office says Baylee and her father, Matthew Holbrook, were hunting Wednesday afternoon when lightning hit a tree and also them, knocking both unconscious. When the father woke up, he discovered his daughter was not breathing.

Baylee’s father called 911 and performed CPR until emergency workers arrived, the sheriff’s office says. She was taken to HCA Florida Putnam Hospital in critical condition.

WJAX Channel 47 reports Baylee was a cheerleader at Palatka High School. The school canceled sporting events Thursday night, according to a social media post from Trinity Baptist Church.

“We are in prayer for the Holbrook family and reflecting as well as sharing,” the church says in the post.