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.

Featured image credit: John Sirlin / Alamy

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.

Featured image credit: Facebook

A mom whose son died nearly two years ago in a car crash has been able to hear her late son's heartbeat after the organ was donated to a 14-year-old boy.

When Maria Clark tragically lost her 25-year-old son, Nicholas Peters, she decided she would donate his organs to those who need it.

Clark, who has three other children, said in an interview with Good Morning America: "I said, 'We can't bury all of this magic, that we have to share.'"

"He was always a people person, helping everybody, going out of his way to make sure you knew you were special," she added, and said: "Everybody was 'Team Nick.'"

The rest of Clark's family agreed that the young man's organs should be donated to people all over the country.

What Clark didn't know at the time was that one of the recipients lived less than three hours away.

In September 2020, in nearby New Iberia, Louisiana, 14-year-old Jean Paul Marceaux was on a waiting list for his second heart transplant.

Jean Paul, who is now in the seventh grade, was just two years old when he contracted a virus and developed cardiomyopathy - a condition in which "the heart muscle’s ability to pump blood is reduced," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

He was on life support for around half a year before he received a new heart. But more than a decade later, the heart began to fail - his mom, Candace Armstrong, said.

"When he got the first transplant, we knew the probability of him having to get a second one was highly likely," she said. "He ended up in the hospital in June 2020."

Jean Paul had his second transplant thanks to Clark's son. Less than a year later, Armstrong received a letter from Clark who was keen to meet the people who were now carrying her son's organs.

"I wrote right away," Clark said. "I wanted to know where his organs are. I want to know that they're okay, that they're doing fine and moving on with their lives and their health."

The two families met for the first time on May 14 in New Orleans. Armstrong and her son brought with them a stethoscope so that Clark could hear her son's beating heart in Jean Paul.

"He came in and he just hugged me. He had a strong hug, just like Nick did," Clark said. "And then to hear the heartbeat, it was so strong and so full of life."

"It came through the stethoscope so strong, just beating like a drum," she said of Jean Paul's heartbeat. "I was so connected to him because he was so much like Nick."

Featured image credit: Jacob Lund / Alamy

The family of a Texas father who was tragically killed by lightning has revealed his touching final words to his son.

On May 15, 34-year-old father Matthew Boggs tragically lost his life when he was struck by a bolt of lightning as he was walking home with his two sons in Valley Mills.

Recalling the heartbreaking story in a GoFundMe campaign, a family member writes that "lightning came out of the sky without warning" and struck the dad.

Devastatingly, due to the fact Matthew was holding hands with his six-year-old son, Grayson, the young boy has also been left in a critical condition and is "fighting for his life" in hospital.

Since the tragedy unfolded, Grayson's older brother, 11-year-old Elijah, has recounted the moment he knew something was wrong.

Speaking to local news station KWTX, Elijah said: "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."

Matthew's mom, Angela Boggs, also shared what became her son's final moment with Grayson.

"He just got done telling Grayson... he said, 'I love you buddy'. That’s when the lightning came down," said the grieving mom, who also revealed that she has come to terms with her son's death and is now focused on her grandchildren.

"I always took care of him because he was the one that God gave to me. Now my responsibility is to take care of my grandbabies," she said.

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. Since being admitted, doctors are awaiting to see if he has suffered any brain damage.

Grayson is also being treated for pneumonia.

Boggs says that her grandson is now in God's "healing arms", but believes his boisterous attitude will see him recover.

"He’s a rambunctious little boy," she said of her grandson. "He is always, always on the move playing. He goes, ‘Rawww strong.'"

As of this writing, more than $67,000 has been raised for the family, which will be used to cover Matthew's funeral costs, as well as to support his children for their futures.

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 continue to go out to the family and loved ones of the father and son at this time.

Featured image credit: Facebook

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."

Featured image credit: GoFundMe