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Published 13:32 12 May 2021 GMT
A young boy who died after being struck by lightning had raised money for a mental health charity before his tragic death.
Per Blackpool Gazette, nine-year-old Jordan Banks of Blackpool, England, was in the middle of a one-to-one football training session at a playing field when he was struck early evening on Tuesday, May 11.
According to the local outlet, in January, the youngster had run a marathon in honor of his uncle, Reece Begg, who sadly took his own life in 2018.
Jordan managed to raise more than $3,200 (£2,300) for a local counseling facility, which provides mental health services to 110 locals each week.
Jordan was fatally struck during an unexpected thunderstorm that had not been forecast by the Met Office. Following the accident, he was taken to hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Clifton Rangers Junior Football Club has since paid tribute to their young player in a post on Facebook:
"Jordan, of our U9 Bees, tragically passed away yesterday evening doing what he loved. Jordan was a shining light and an inspiration to everyone that he met. A strong, determined and courageous young man, who will be missed by everyone.
"The world has truly lost an extraordinary young man, who had done so much good in his community. We cannot begin to imagine the grief of the family.
"Our thoughts, prayers, love and hugs go out to them all and to his teammates, friends and coaches who are devastated by the loss. The Club will be working with the FA to support the family and anyone touched by this tragedy and ensure they get the help they need."
Det Supt Nick Connaughton of Lancashire Police said in a statement: "This is a truly devastating incident and our thoughts are wholeheartedly with the family and friends of the young boy, who has passed away, at this very sad and distressing time."
Jordan's family is being supported by a police liaison officer. Meanwhile, his teachers and classmates will be given support from Blackpool Council.
Our thoughts are with Jordan's friends and family at this difficult time.
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Published 10:40 26 Jun 2024 GMT
Published 10:12 14 May 2021 GMT
The family of a young boy who tragically died after being struck by lightning have donated his organs to save three other children.
Per Blackpool Gazette, nine-year-old Jordan Banks of Blackpool, England, was in the middle of a one-to-one football training session at a local playing field when he was struck early evening on Tuesday, May 11.
Now, Jordan's dad, Matt Banks, has explained how his "selfless" son has become an organ donor posthumously - with the aim of saving the lives of three other children.
Jordan "would do anything for anyone", his father said in a heartfelt Facebook statement posted on his behalf yesterday (May 13).
Banks said in the post: "He had the biggest heart and would do anything for anyone, and when parents say they have the best kid ever, he [genuinely] was the best ever and if I ever could have asked for a perfect child that was my Jordan.
"I couldn’t have been prouder of him always putting other people himself, such a selfless little person."
The father then explains how his young son continues to help people even after his tragic death.
Banks said: "Even now his kindness has meant that three other children may be able to live, as he always told us he wanted to be able to help other people if he could. So was a donor and has donated which we know will be what he wanted.
"Literally words can’t even explain how heartbroken I am. Not only have I lost my little boy I have lost my little best mate. We would sit and talk for hours about his future and he would always ask me what I wanted his children to call me, and we both decided on papi."
"I never took anything for granted and I always made sure we had quality family time and did whatever I could to show him how much he was loved and how special and beautiful he was," Banks added.
The father went on to say that he hopes no one else will ever have to endure the pain he is enduring.
The grieving father continues: "What I ask of anyone with children cherish every moment, even moments that seem too insignificant right now. Picking them up from school, putting them to bed at night, making them a drink have tea time together.
"As you never know when moments like that will be taken away from you. It only feels like yesterday I was making Jordan a brew, putting him to bed, getting kisses, squeezing him and playing with him."
The post continued: "Don’t take any time for granted as you may end up wishing you had more like me! So please, please, if you are busy and they might want to play a game or watch something with you just find time because it’s priceless."
Months before his death, Jordan had run a marathon in honor of his uncle, Reece Begg, who took his own life in 2018.
Per the Blackpool Gazette, Jordan managed to raise more than $3,200 (£2,300) for a local counseling facility, which provides mental health services to 110 locals each week.
The youngster was fatally struck during an unexpected thunderstorm that had reportedly not been forecast by the UK's national weather service, the Met Office. Following the accident, he was taken to hospital where he sadly succumbed to his injuries.
Our thoughts are with Jordan's friends and family at this difficult time.
Published 15:31 17 Jun 2023 GMT
A six-year-old boy tragically died a month after his father, who succumbed to his injuries after the pair were struck by lightning while getting off of a bus.
Grayson Boggs, a six-year-old from Valley Mills, Texas, passed away yesterday (June 16) after fighting for his life for the previous month.
As documented by a GoFundMe page, Grayson and his father Matthew had just gotten off a bus and were walking up the driveway to their home.
The incident, which took place on May 15, saw a bolt of lightning strike from the sky and hit Matthew, and travel into Grayson as the pair were holding hands.
Michael was pronounced dead at the scene, and Grayson was "unresponsive but breathing", as documented by PEOPLE.
Angela Boggs, Matthew's mother, told CBS affiliate KWTX that during the final exchange between the father and son, he told him "I love you, buddy".
"He just got done telling Grayson," Angela said. "That's when the lightning came down."
Grayson was transported to Baylor Scott & White McLane Children’s Medical Center in Temple, where he received treatment for his injuries.
Stephanie Burris, the organizer of the fundraising page, wrote: "He [Grayson] is currently on a vent and is having seizures. The doctors have told us that because he was hit by lightning, their main concerns are his heart, lungs, and kidney damage."
In an update on the page, Stephanie revealed that Grayson was taken off a ventilator and was able to breathe on his own, but the damage he had sustained was so severe that he was placed on comfort care as he passed away.
On June 10, she penned: "Grayson is surrounded by the people that he loves the most and is comfortable. Please pray for peace, comfort, and acceptance for the family, and please pray that Grayson goes quickly and that his suffering can finally be put at ease."
Sadly, Grayson passed away yesterday (June 16) and Stephanie posted a heartbreaking update. "Grayson went to be with our Lord and his father at 5:05 am today," she said. "Please pray for the family at this time. Fly high, sweet boy."
At the time of writing, the GoFundMe page has raised $84,000 out of its intended $100,000 target from 1800 donors.
All proceeds will be going to the family in order to support them with medical bills and funeral costs.
Our thoughts are with Matthew and Grayson's family and friends during this heartbreaking time.
Published 13:28 23 May 2023 GMT
A six-year-old boy is reportedly "fighting for his life" after he and his father were struck by lightning while holding hands.
A loving hand-in-hand walk back from a Texas bus stop resulted in tragedy when 34-year-old Matthew Boggs was walking with his two young sons, Grayson and Elijah.
Sharing the heartbreaking story in a GoFundMe campaign, a family member writes that "lightning came out of the sky without warning" and struck the Valley Mills father on the afternoon of May 15.
The GoFundMe and an obituary for the father state that six-year-old Grayson was holding his father's hand at the time, via PEOPLE.
Elijah, who is just 11 years old, told local news station KWTX: "I was really scared. I rolled Grayson over and he was kind of smiling a little bit. I thought they were just joking, but when I rolled my dad over the middle of his head was bleeding and his face was already purple."
After receiving CPR at the scene, young Grayson was rushed to the McClane Children’s Hospital Baylor Scott and White where family say he is "fighting for his life" and is unresponsive.
Matthew's mom, Angela Boggs, says Grayson is now in God's "healing arms".
A recent update on the GoFundMe page now reveals that the six-year-old boy is also being treated for pneumonia. Doctors also say that there is a chance the youngster could have brain damage.
KWTX reports that grandmother Angela has accepted the loss of her only son, and is now focused on her grandchildren.
"I always took care of [Matthew] because he was the one that God gave to me," she said. "Now my responsibility is to take care of my grandbabies."
Speaking of Grayson's loving energy, she added: "He’s a rambunctious little boy. He is always, always on the move playing. He goes, ‘Rawww strong."
As of this writing, over $66,000 has been raised for the family. The money raised will go toward Matthew's funeral costs, as well as supporting his sons in the future.
Per the CDC, lightning can strike anywhere on Earth, but they are more frequent and deadly in southeastern US states, such as Texas.
WSAV Chief Meteorologist Kris Allred has stated that this is the third fatal lightning strike to occur in the US in 2023.
Our thoughts go out to the family and loved ones of the father and son at this time.
Published 13:54 10 Jul 2024 GMT
A 19-year-old, who had become a father just six months ago, has tragically been killed by a lightning strike.
Ethan Lawrence, a Broward County resident, was struck by lightning at approximately 10:24AM local time at Vista View Park, confirmed by the Davie Police Department to PEOPLE.
The incident occurred in Davie, Florida, on Sunday, June 30, just six months after Lawrence welcomed his first child, daughter Emara, with his girlfriend, Andrea.
In the newly released 911 call, a woman told the operator: "I believe someone just got struck by lightning up on the hill. I saw lightning strike and somebody just fell down," according to NBC 6.
"I was leaving and a big thing of lightning came and I have not seen the person get up."
The caller, who was uncertain if the person had been hit due to her position, continued: "I was driving at the bottom of the hill to exit the park and a huge thing of lightning came.
"I saw a guy walking up on the hill and then all of a sudden he was like down. It looked like the lightning was like right on him.
"It looked so scary and he just, the person just went down on the ground," she added.
Davie Police Department confirmed to PEOPLE that authorities discovered an adult male deceased in the park after receiving the 911 call and arriving on the scene.
Lawrence's mother, Lourdes, told WSVN that she had sent her husband, Patrick, to look for their son after noticing his phone's location hadn't changed for hours.
“Then the detectives came over to my car and told me ‘I don’t know if there is any easy way to say this at all, so I’m just going to tell you that unfortunately, your son was running, he was struck by lightning and he didn’t make it,’" Patrick said.
Andrea, Lawrence's girlfriend, expressed her shock and disbelief to WSVN. "I am still trying to process it because of how it happened. In a matter of seconds, he texted me in the morning, ‘Good morning love, I woke up late today.’"
The Lawrence family created a GoFundMe page on Thursday, July 4 to “keep Ethan's memory alive by supporting this scholarship fund.”
At the time of writing, the page has raised $10,570 from a target of $30,000.
Part of the page reads: "Liam, who lost his brother, mentor, hero, and best friend, is devastated. Ethan's greatest wish was to see Liam succeed and pursue his dreams, just as he was doing.
"To honor Ethan's memory, we want to ensure that Liam, along with other runners, have the opportunity to achieve their goals and shine brightly, guided by Ethan's spirit."
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