A man living in Florida to attend the Disney College Program was killed after being struck by lightning, officials say.
On Sept. 8, Matthew Jenkins, 20, was walking in Celebration, Florida, which is about 20 miles southwest of Orlando, when he was struck by lightning, according to the Osceola County Sheriff's Office. Bystanders began CPR at the scene, and Jenkins was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Jenkins recently moved to Florida from Michigan to participate in the Disney College Program, an internship that lets college students and recent graduates work at and live near the Walt Disney World Resort, Jenkins' dad told local news outlet WESH.
Here's what to know.
heat records
4 lightning deaths in less than a month in Florida
Jenkins' death marks the fourth fatality caused by lightning in less than a month in Florida, reported Florida Today, a part of the USA TODAY Network.
On Aug. 29, Steve Matheson, a husband and father of four visiting from Utah, was jet skiing in the waters off St. Petersburg, Florida, about 20 miles southwest of Tampa, when he was killed by lightning.
Less than a week before that, on Aug. 23, Kenya Glasgow, 31, and her 2-year-old daughter, Kennedi Rose, were fatally struck by lightning in the driveway outside a relative's home in Margate, which is near Fort Lauderdale. Glasgow’s husband was feet away when the incident happened and Kennedi’s twin was inside the family vehicle.
In 2026, there have been a total of 14 lightning fatalities in the U.S., with five happening in Florida, according to the National Weather Service (NWS).
Florida has most lightning fatalities in nation
Florida leads the nation in lightning deaths, according to AccuWeather. There are about 3,500 lightning flashes that reach the ground each day in the state.
While it ranks fourth in the nation for lightning flashes – behind Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas – Florida has the highest number of fatalities for reasons including its dense population and the amount of time people spend outdoors, per AccuWeather.
Nationwide, the top three activities that lead to lightning-related deaths from 2006 through 2025 are fishing, being at the beach and boating. Of the top 12, golf is ranked 11th, just ahead of doing yard work.
While lightning is not attracted to any specific material – a persistent myth is that it seeks out metal – it is more likely to strike taller objects, making someone in a field, on a boat or beach, repairing a roof or on an open highway more exposed.
Staying safe when there's lightning
The odds of being struck by lightning in a given year are 1 in 1.22 million, according to the National Weather Service. Despite the low odds of it happening, there are still precautions one can take to avoid being struck.
Being struck by lightning can cause someone to go into cardiac arrest, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. To avoid any incidents, do the following:
- If you hear thunder or see lightning, go inside.
- Do not bathe, shower or wash dishes during a thunderstorm. Avoid water, as lightning can travel through the plumbing.
- Avoid using equipment such as computers, laptops, gaming systems or other appliances that are plugged into an electrical outlet.
- Do not lie or lean on concrete floors and walls during thunderstorms, as lightning can travel through metal wires or bars found in concrete walls and flooring.
- During thunderstorms, stay off of porches and keep your distance from windows and doors.
If someone is struck by lightning, call 911 immediately.
Kimberly Miller with USA TODAY NETWORK contributed to this report.
Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers space phenomena, scientific studies and natural disasters. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Man living in Florida for Disney College Program killed by lightning
