NEWLYWED MAN KILLED BY LIGHTNING STRIKE ON HONEYMOON IN FLORIDA DESPITE CLEAR SKIES
A Colorado man on his honeymoon was tragically killed after being struck by lightning while standing in shallow water under clear skies in New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
Jake Rosencranz, 29, was enjoying a delayed honeymoon with his wife, Leah, when the unexpected bolt struck around 12:30 p.m. on June 20. According to local authorities, there was no storm directly overhead at the time — the lightning is believed to have traveled from a distant storm several miles away, an event beach safety officials describe as “rare but possible.”
Rosencranz was initially found in ankle-deep water and received CPR before being transported to a nearby hospital in critical condition. He sadly passed away the next day, becoming the first lightning fatality in Florida in 2025.
Tammy Malphurs, director of Volusia County Beach Safety, emphasized the unusual nature of the incident: “There was not a storm immediately over us. This lightning bolt came from a storm several miles away.”
Florida continues to lead the U.S. in lightning deaths and density, recording 12 fatalities in 2024 and the highest number of strikes per square mile, according to environmental data from AEM.
Originally from Boston, Rosencranz was a graduate of the University of Denver and worked as a project manager at Behm Consulting Group. Colleagues described him as a dedicated professional and outdoors enthusiast who loved skiing, golfing, and exploring the Rockies with his wife and their dog, Bonnie.
Behm Consulting’s president, Nick Behm, mourned the loss in a statement: “Jake Rosencranz was a great friend and beloved colleague. We are heartbroken over this terrible loss. We are sending love and support to his wife, Leah, and his family. He will be missed.”
A GoFundMe campaign launched to support Leah has raised over $25,000.
Sheriff Mike Chitwood, who shared condolences via social media, wrote: “They were visiting our beaches to celebrate their marriage. In one terrifying second, everything changed.”
