A baby boy who was born after his mum was struck by lightning at nine months pregnant has died.
26-year-old Meghan Davidson was just a week away from her due date when she was struck by lightning while walking with her mother in her local neighbourhood of Fort Myers in Florida, according to The New York Post.
She was rushed to hospital where doctors delivered her baby - a son she had named Owen - by C-section. Sadly, however, he passed away two weeks later, on July 13. Meghan, who has two older children, remained in intensive care for several days.
Meghan's husband, Matt Davidson, was working in a gym nearby and left work immediately to be by her side.
A member of Meghan’s local church said they held prayer vigils for the young mother and her baby.
Church member Linda Kelly told NBC: "I think it's devastating, you know - you just don't understand why some tragedies happen."
Another church member, Carol Bridges, echoed her sympathies, adding: “A mother of two other children, too; you know how this is tearing their entire family apart.”
A family friend posted on Facebook, saying that while Meghan was showing signs of recovery the day after the accident, there were concerns for little Owen.
“While Meghan’s condition is very critical, the bigger concern seems to be Owen,” he wrote.
“They said it might be a few days before they truly know the extent of the injuries from the lightning and the lack of oxygen as a result of the cardiac arrest Meghan was in for approximately 10 minutes.”
The Lee County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that Owen had passed away. It is the fourth death related to lightning in Florida so far, this year.
Meghan has been released from hospital and now has to deal with the devastating loss of her son, as well as her injuries. No further details are available at this time.
We are thinking of this young mum and her family; what a terrible loss they have endured.
