Florida Couple Nearly Killed by Lightning Strike While Walking Hand-in-Hand

A couple in Florida is recovering after being struck by lightning while walking hand in hand.

Aaron Walenga and his wife, Clare Walenga, were walking along the West Orange Trail in central Florida on September 2 when they were struck by a lightning bolt, according to WHSV.

Luckily for the pair, who had just dropped their children off at church, they were spotted by four Good Samaritans out with their local run club, who stepped in to save their lives.

Charlotte Sachetti Weyand, Michael Sachetti Weyand and Amber McManus were nearby when the lightning struck, calling 911 and starting life-saving measures that ultimately helped save the couple.

“I’ve never seen anybody that color in my life before,” Michael told local outlet WKEG of Clare, 43, who he said had stopped breathing and turned blue. “I checked to see if she was breathing and she wasn’t.”

“Instinctually I started CPR, which instinctually is not something I do every day,” he added in conversation with WHSV. “I’ve never done CPR before in my life. But in that moment, I knew I had to start.”

Aaron, 48, meanwhile, was on the ground after falling face-first.

“I wanted to get to Clare, and I just couldn’t get up,” Aaron told WKEG. “I couldn’t really move, and I was in the worst pain of my life.”

Tiffany Roby, who was also at the scene, told the outlet that Clare, who was given chest compressions, took a “massive breath” just before mouth-to-mouth was about to be administered.

“I don’t know how to describe the feeling,” Roby said of the hair-raising moment.

Clare and Aaron were both hospitalized, with the mother of three suffering a concussion, while Aaron ended up with bruises on his face.

Thanking the Good Samaritans for saving his wife, Aaron told WHSV: “There were so many miracles that we witnessed, from Clare being brought back to life to the four of you being there on that trail at that time.”

“This gift of life that we have is just so beautiful,” Clare added.

A GoFundMe created for the couple has raised over $65,000 as they continue to recover, with a family member of the pair sharing an update on September 4 about their progress.

“We have seen God answer so many prayers, and Clare and Aaron have come a long way in such a short amount of time,” the update read, in part. “We remain hopeful and thankful as they continue on the road to recovery.”