In Florida, where summer skies can change from serene to stormy in the blink of an eye, lightning is more than a dramatic natural display—it’s a stealthy, often deadly hazard. This week, that danger became all too real for one man in Pinellas County, who is now recovering after a terrifying encounter with one of nature’s most unpredictable weapons.

An Ordinary Day Turns Deadly

Travis Kurtz, a local property manager, was simply doing his job—checking on one of his company’s commercial properties—when disaster struck, quite literally. According to his girlfriend, Jessica French, the lightning likely traveled through an underground sprinkler system before hitting him. The bolt surged through the piping and found its way to Kurtz, who never saw it coming.

He was rendered unconscious immediately. When he finally came to, he was no longer outside in the rain. Instead, he found himself lying on the floor of a nearby pizza restaurant, surrounded by paramedics and concerned bystanders. The restaurant’s owner, a tenant of Kurtz’s, had spotted him collapsed in the rain, rushed to his aid, and called 911—actions that likely saved his life.

A Heartbeat Racing Toward Death

As shocking as the lightning strike was, what followed was even more alarming. The electrical surge had sent Kurtz’s heart into a chaotic rhythm—an arrhythmia so extreme that his heart was beating at over 265 beats per minute, a level far beyond what the human body can safely handle.

First responders acted quickly, administering emergency medications to try to stabilize him. “It was terrifying,” French said. “They didn’t know if he would make it.”

This kind of cardiac chaos is not unusual for lightning strike survivors. The human heart runs on electrical signals, and a massive surge—like one from a lightning bolt—can scramble that delicate system. Survivors often deal with lasting effects: heart irregularities, nerve damage, and even cognitive issues that may linger for years.

A Bolt from the Blue

Perhaps the most unsettling part of the entire event was the weather itself. There was no violent storm or dark, looming clouds overhead—only a seemingly peaceful day with a light breeze. “He picked that property to check on because it looked like nice weather,” French recalled.

This is a textbook example of a phenomenon meteorologists refer to as a “bolt from the blue.” These lightning strikes can travel up to 10 miles from a thunderstorm, often hitting areas that seem clear and safe. It’s one of the many reasons Florida—often called the “Lightning Capital of the United States”—poses such a risk, even when the skies appear calm.

Lightning by the Numbers

Each year, the U.S. sees between 20 to 30 million cloud-to-ground lightning strikes. Around 300 people are struck annually, with roughly 10% of those strikes proving fatal. Survivors often face a lifetime of complications, ranging from chronic pain and PTSD to memory loss and heart problems.

Florida consistently tops national statistics for lightning strikes and lightning-related deaths. Its combination of flat land, open spaces, and humid, storm-prone weather makes it a hotspot for electrical activity during the summer months.

Unlikely Survivors: Stories That Defy the Odds

Kurtz now joins a reluctant but remarkable group—those who have survived lightning strikes. While rare, stories like his are not unheard of, and some are even more extraordinary.

• Roy Cleveland Sullivan, a Virginia park ranger, holds the Guinness World Record for surviving seven lightning strikes between 1942 and 1977. Known as the “Human Lightning Rod,” he endured severe injuries over the years but continued to work outdoors until his death from unrelated causes.

• In Riverview, Florida, a 34-year-old man was struck while golfing in 2018 under deceptively calm skies. Witnesses said there was only faint thunder in the distance before the bolt hit.

• In Texas, a woman holding her toddler was struck in 2017. The lightning passed through her body but spared the child, who only suffered minor injuries—a survival doctors called “nothing short of miraculous.”

• During a marathon in Germany in 2016, several runners were hospitalized after lightning struck the area. Though no one died, the event highlighted how vulnerable large outdoor gatherings can be during unstable weather.

The Lasting Damage of Lightning

When lightning strikes a human body, the effects can be catastrophic. A single bolt can contain up to 300 million volts, thousands of times more powerful than a household electrical socket. Survivors may suffer from:

• Cardiac arrest or dangerously irregular heartbeat

• Neurological symptoms like seizures, memory loss, or muscle weakness

• Burns, often in fern-like patterns called Lichtenberg figures

• Psychological trauma, including anxiety, depression, or PTSD

In many cases, the full extent of the damage isn’t known until weeks or even months after the incident.

Newfound Gratitude and a Long Road Ahead

Since the incident, Kurtz has remained in touch with the pizzeria owner who found him, expressing heartfelt gratitude. According to French, the event has given him a new outlook on life—one shaped by the fragility of survival and the kindness of strangers.

“I honestly don’t think he’d be alive if that shop owner hadn’t acted so fast,” she said.

Kurtz’s family has launched a fundraiser to support his ongoing recovery, including medical bills and helping French, who has temporarily left her job to care for him full-time. The road to full recovery will be long, but they’re thankful he has one at all.

What We Can Learn

Kurtz’s near-death experience is a chilling reminder that lightning doesn’t follow the rules we expect. Experts urge people to take even distant thunder seriously and follow the “30-30 Rule”:

• If you hear thunder within 30 seconds of seeing lightning, seek shelter immediately.

• Wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before resuming outdoor activities.

Also, be mindful of hidden risks. Metal fences, underground pipes, trees, and even concrete floors (which often contain metal rebar) can conduct lightning. In Kurtz’s case, it was likely the underground sprinkler system that acted as a deadly conduit.

A Life Changed Forever

What began as a routine workday ended with a traumatic, near-fatal event that will shape Kurtz’s life forever. But amid the fear and pain, there is also perspective—and gratitude. He was lucky. Many aren’t.

His story is more than a freak accident. It’s a sobering reminder of how quickly life can change and how even on clear, sunny days, danger may be only moments away.