A Colorado teenager was fatally struck by lightning while hiking on Mount Blue Sky and trying to protect his younger brother, according to his family and local authorities.
Clear Creek County public safety agencies received a report at about 1:22 p.m. local time on July 26 of a lightning strike that may have injured a person at the summit of Mount Blue Sky, the county sheriff's office said in a statement. As several emergency agencies headed to the scene, authorities received a second report confirming that a person at the summit had been injured by the lightning strike.
Denver Mountain Parks rangers immediately began conducting life-saving measures on the victim when they arrived at the mountain, but he could not be revived, according to the sheriff's
office. The Clear Creek County Coroner’s Office later identified the victim as 15-year-old Levi Strobel.
A second victim, who was identified as the teenager's younger brother, was airlifted by Flight For Life Colorado to a Denver-area hospital, the sheriff's office said.
The brothers were hiking in a party of five, according to the sheriff's office. Two men in the group suffered minor injuries and were not transported to a hospital.
"Together, we extend our condolences to the family, loved ones, and victims of this tragedy. We respectfully request privacy for the victims and their families," the sheriff's office said in the statement.
Mount Blue Sky is a 14,265-foot peak in the Rocky Mountains about 40 miles west of Denver. The Mount Blue Sky Recreation Area draws more than 100,000 visitors each year, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Family: Teen was a 'brave and loving brother'
In a statement shared by the Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office, the Strobel family described the teen as a "deeply loved" son, brother, family member and friend whose Christian faith shaped his life.
"Our family is heartbroken by the sudden death of our beloved Levi, who was struck by lightning on Mt. Blue Sky yesterday," the family said in the statement on July 27. "He brought immeasurable joy into the world and into the lives of everyone who knew him."
"In his final moments, Levi showed the courage and selflessness that characterized his life, seeking to protect his younger brother, who was with him on the mountain," the statement continued. "He was a brave and loving brother, and we will always remember the devotion he showed to those he loved."
The Strobel family said they were "grateful for the compassion, prayers, and support" that have been extended to them. The family asked the public for privacy and space as they grieve.
Teen's younger brother hospitalized after lightning strike incident
The incident occurred while Strobel was hiking with his younger brother, Jace, and his friends, according to a GoFundMe page organized to support the family.
Strobel's brother was critically injured in the incident, but his condition "improved throughout the night, and the family remains hopeful as he continues on the road to recovery," the fundraiser states.
The teen's parents are longtime members of the Erie community, a suburb of Denver, and "remain by Jace's side while also grieving the devastating loss of Levi and supporting their other two sons," according to the fundraiser.
The GoFundMe page states that donations will help cover medical expenses, funeral costs, counseling and other unexpected expenses in the months ahead.
Latest lightning fatality in US in 2026
Strobel's death marks the sixth person to be killed in a reported lightning strike in the United States so far this year, according to the National Lightning Safety Council.
At least seven people have died in lightning strike incidents as of July 27, including a man who was hiking on a popular mountain peak in Utah and a man who was struck in the water off Fort Myers Beach in Florida earlier this month.
Last year, 21 people were killed in a strike, and the year before, 14 others died, the agency reported.
The odds of being struck by lightning over an estimated 80-year lifetime are about 1 in 20,000, according to the agency.
The odds of being struck by lightning in an estimated 80-year lifetime are one in about 20,000, according to the agency. Here are four ways people are struck by lightning as previously reported by USA TODAY:
- Conduction: This is the cause of most indoor lightning deaths and injuries. Lightning travels through wires and other metal surfaces.
- Direct strike: The person becomes a part of the main discharge channel, usually when outside in an open area.
- Side flash: Lightning strikes a tall object and part of the current jumps from the object to the victim − for example, when a person is struck while standing under a tree.
- Ground current: Lightning enters the body at the point closest to a strike, travels through the body, and leaves at the contact point farthest away from the initial strike. This causes most deaths and injuries.
Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Teen killed by lightning tried to protect brother, family says
