Newlywed Man, 29, Died After a Lightning Bolt Struck Him

Jake Rosencranz, 29, of Denver, Colorado, died on June 24, 2023, one day after being struck by lightning while standing ankle-deep in the Atlantic Ocean at New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Rosencranz had just married his wife, Leah, and the couple was in Florida for their honeymoon. The strike occurred on what appeared to be a clear afternoon - described by local authorities as a “bolt from the blue,” a rare phenomenon in which a lightning bolt travels horizontally from a distant storm before striking ground miles from the cell. The storm was miles offshore at the time of the incident. Bystanders on the beach administered CPR until emergency personnel arrived. Rosencranz was transported to the hospital in critical condition and died the following day.

The Victim

Rosencranz was raised in Weston, Massachusetts, and met Leah in high school. The couple had been living in Denver, where they enjoyed skiing and outdoor activities. His death was the fourth lightning-related fatality in the United States that year. Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said: “At 29 years old, he should have had many more anniversaries with her for years to come.”

Community Response

Friends and family launched a GoFundMe to support Leah following her husband’s death. As of the time of reporting, more than $139,000 had been raised. Beach officials confirmed it was the first lightning-related fatality at New Smyrna Beach in years. The National Weather Service notes that Florida records more lightning-related deaths than any other U.S. state, due to its frequent summer storms and dense coastal population.

References: ‘29-year-old on honeymoon dies after lightning strike on Florida beach’ | ‘Man dies after being struck by lightning while on honeymoon in rare phenomenon on sunny day’ | ‘Weston, Massachusetts native killed by lightning strike on Florida beach on his honeymoon’