Witnesses have recalled the heartbreaking moment a newlywed was tragically killed by lightning after stepping into shallow water.
On Friday (June 20), Jake Rosencranz and his wife Leah were spending a long-awaited honeymoon day at New Smyrna Beach, Florida.
The couple had delayed their honeymoon and were hoping for a quiet beach day. Locals said the weather was clear and sunny, even though a storm was developing just four miles inland, the Daily Mail reported.
At approximately 12:30PM, the 29-year-old was wading in the shallow surf when a lightning bolt struck him, despite the storm being miles away from the coastline.
Onlookers reported hearing immediate cries for help. “It was the most crackling, electrical hit you could imagine. I mean like fierce,” one person told local media.
Bystanders rushed to assist. A nearby nurse began CPR within seconds, and a lifeguard was alerted to the emergency. “You could tell it was bad 'cause they started chest compressions immediately,” another witness recalled.
Rosencranz was rushed to a nearby hospital in critical condition but succumbed to his injuries the following day, June 21, WTVG reported.
Director of Volusia County Beach Safety Tamra Malphurs confirmed the incident in a statement, which read: “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.
"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," they added.
Rosencranz and Leah had tied the knot in the summer of 2023 and lived together in a high-rise apartment in Denver’s Washington Park neighborhood. Social media showed them sharing frequent vacation photos and glimpses of their life together.
Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood addressed the tragedy in a heartfelt Facebook message: “So sorry for the tragic loss of a young man here on a delayed honeymoon with his wife. At 29 years old, he should have had many more anniversaries with her for years to come.
"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," he concluded.
In the days following the tragedy, tributes for Jake poured in online. A GoFundMe campaign created for his family has already raised over $23,364 in support.
"On Saturday, June 21, 2025, Jake Rosencranz passed away after being struck by lightning while on a delayed honeymoon vacation with his wife, Leah, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida," the campaign read.
"This devastating loss impacts so many loved ones, but especially Leah, who will be navigating life without her husband and best friend. During this difficult time, we are looking to financially support Leah as she deals with medical bills and other implications in the wake of the loss of Jake," they added.