Newlywed tragically dies on honeymoon in freak accident after stepping into ankle-deep water
Niamh Shackleton
Featured Image Credit: GoFundMe
A newlywed has died in extremely rare and tragic circumstances.
Jake Rosencranz, 29, was honeymooning in Florida with his new wife Leah and, as many people do when visiting the Sunshine State, they took to a trip to the beach to enjoy the weather.
They visited New Smyrna Beach on Friday (June 20), on what people have described as a clear and sunny day, despite there being bad weather further inland, per MailOnline.
Jake, who hailed from Colorado, was paddling in ankle-deep water when the inland storm made its way closer to the coast around 12:30pm on the day in question.
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When the storm hit, FOX 35 Storm Tracker Radar recorded a whopping 170 lightning strikes, one of which struck Jake. The odds of being struck by lightning in America are less than one in a million, says the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While 90 percent of victims survive, tragically this wasn't the case of Jake and he died the following day (June 21).
Tamra Malphurs, the Director of Volusia County Beach Safety, told MailOnline that Jake had CPR after the strike.
"On Friday June 20 A 29-year-old man from Colorado was struck by lightning shortly before 12:30 PM while standing in ankle-deep water in New Smyrna Beach," she shared.
"CPR was immediately initiated, and we performed life-saving measures. He was transported from the scene unresponsive, and he sadly lost his life from the injuries he sustained."
Tributes have been rolling in for Jake in the wake of his untimely death, with Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood leading them.
"So sorry for the tragic loss of a young man here on a delayed honeymoon with his wife," he penned on Facebook. "At 29 years old, he should have had many more anniversaries with her for years to come."
Chitwood's message continued: "Sending sincere condolences to this young woman on behalf of all of us in Volusia County who were hoping against hope that the diligent efforts of our lifeguards, EMS team and ER staff would bring him back to her."
A GoFundMe has since been created for Jake's loved ones where, at the time of writing, over $23,000 has been raised.
According to the New Smyrna Beach Fire Department, two other people were struck on the same day as Jake.
They had been at the Venetian Bay golf course at the time. It's said that the pair did not need to be hospitalized afterwards, PEOPLE reports.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].