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MoreQuiet 14d · day 14

Michigan man, 20, dies in Florida lightning strike days into Disney internship

Matthew Jenkins, a new Disney College Program participant, was struck and killed on a Celebration walking path amid what officials call Florida's sixth lightning death of the year.

newest coverage 13d agosummary written 13d ago3 pieces256 likes & upvotes14 comments NewswiresX

What to know

  • A 20-year-old Disney College Program participant, Matthew Jenkins, was killed by an apparent lightning strike on a Celebration, Florida walking path just days after moving from Michigan.
  • Medical examiner documents cited by the NY Post note apparent lightning exit wounds on Jenkins' feet; official cause of death awaits final determination.
  • Disney issued a statement mourning Jenkins as part of its community.
  • A meteorologist notes the death is Florida's sixth lightning-related fatality of the year, the most of any US state.

“There was a lady behind me. She came and started CPR also as soon as possible. We were just waiting until the first responders got there.”

Felipe Costa, witness · NY Post ↗ · Sep 9

Matthew Eric Jenkins VictimFelipe Costa WitnessSpyro Betz WitnessDisney Employer/program operatorMatt Devitt Meteorologist

Michigan man, 20, dies in Florida lightning strike days into Disney internship
x.com

How it unfolded 3 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in 4h at Sep 10, 1 PM; 3 pieces over 14 days (2 articles · 1 post) Sep 10, 1 PM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Newswires 2, X 1Sep 10, 5 PM — quietSep 10, 9 PM — quietSep 11, 1 AM — quietSep 11, 5 AM — quietSep 11, 9 AM — quietSep 11, 1 PM — quietSep 11, 5 PM — quietSep 11, 9 PM — quietSep 12, 1 AM — quietSep 12, 5 AM — quietSep 12, 9 AM — quietSep 12, 1 PM — quietSep 12, 5 PM — quietSep 12, 9 PM — quietSep 13, 1 AM — quietSep 13, 5 AM — quietSep 13, 9 AM — quietSep 13, 1 PM — quietSep 13, 5 PM — quietSep 13, 9 PM — quietSep 14, 1 AM — quietSep 14, 5 AM — quietSep 14, 9 AM — quietSep 14, 1 PM — quietSep 14, 5 PM — quietSep 14, 9 PM — quietSep 15, 1 AM — quietSep 15, 5 AM — quietSep 15, 9 AM — quietSep 15, 1 PM — quietSep 15, 5 PM — quietSep 15, 9 PM — quietSep 16, 1 AM — quietSep 16, 5 AM — quietSep 16, 9 AM — quietSep 16, 1 PM — quietSep 16, 5 PM — quietSep 16, 9 PM — quietSep 17, 1 AM — quietSep 17, 5 AM — quietSep 17, 9 AM — quietSep 17, 1 PM — quietSep 17, 5 PM — quietSep 17, 9 PM — quietSep 18, 1 AM — quietSep 18, 5 AM — quietSep 18, 9 AM — quietSep 18, 1 PM — quietSep 18, 5 PM — quietSep 18, 9 PM — quietSep 19, 1 AM — quietSep 19, 5 AM — quietSep 19, 9 AM — quietSep 19, 1 PM — quietSep 19, 5 PM — quietSep 19, 9 PM — quietSep 20, 1 AM — quietSep 20, 5 AM — quietSep 20, 9 AM — quietSep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 5 PM — quietSep 20, 9 PM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 5 AM — quietSep 21, 9 AM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 5 PM — quietSep 21, 9 PM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 5 AM — quietSep 22, 9 AM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 5 PM — quietSep 22, 9 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 5 AM — quietYesterday, 9 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 5 PM — quietYesterday, 9 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 5 AM — quiet 1–3
Sep 11Sep 12Sep 13Sep 14Sep 15Sep 16Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22now · 8:50 AM ET
  1. 3

    Meteorologist flags it as Florida's 6th lightning death this year

    Meteorologist Matt Devitt posts on X noting the strike marks the sixth lightning-related fatality in Florida in 2026, the most of any state.

    “This is unfortunately the 6th lightning related fatality this year in Florida, most in the nation.”
    — @MattDevittWX

    • STRUCK BY LIGHTNING: A 20-year-old man from Michigan was killed Tuesday in Celebration, Florida. This is unfortunately the 6th lightning related fatality this year in Florida, most in the nation.

      @MattDevittWXX13d ago256▲view on X ↗
  2. 2

    NY Post details exit wounds and Disney's statement

    The New York Post, citing medical examiner documents, reports Jenkins had apparent lightning exit wounds on his feet and that he had been running before seeking shelter; Disney issues a statement mourning his death.

    “He had just begun his Disney College Program journey, and will always be remembered as part of our Disney community.”
    — Disney spokesperson
    1. 1 outlet Lightning strike kills 20-year-old Disney College Program intern days after moving to Florida

      first by NY Post, 13d ago

  3. 1

    Fox News reports Jenkins' death and witness accounts

    Fox News, citing FOX35 Orlando and WESH-TV, reports Jenkins had moved to Central Florida the week prior for the Disney College Program and details witness accounts of the strike and CPR attempts.

    “As soon as I heard that, I started running and I came over here [where it happened]. That's when I saw the man.”
    — Felipe Costa
    1. 1 outlet 20-year-old Michigan man killed by possible lightning strike in Florida

      first by Fox News, 13d ago

  4. background

    Lightning strikes Matthew Jenkins on Celebration walking path — Deputies were called to a walking path in the 700 block of Bloom Street around 6:25 p.m. after Jenkins, who had sought shelter under a tree during a sudden thunderstorm, was found unresponsive; he was later pronounced dead at Celebration Hospital.