Good Samaritans Aid Florida Couple After Trail Lightning Strike

A Florida couple, Aaron Walenga, 48, and his wife Clare Walenga, 43, recently recounted their miraculous survival after being struck by lightning while strolling along the West Orange Trail in central Florida on September 2. The couple, married for 17 years, credited a group of quick-thinking individuals, whom they hailed as good Samaritans, for their lives being saved after the terrifying incident. They had just dropped their children at church before the bolt hit.

Clare Walenga received immediate CPR following the strike, while Aaron was rushed to the hospital. Both endured a near-fatal ordeal, but their survival was attributed to the swift response of four friends from a local running club. Aaron expressed profound gratitude, stating, “There were so many miracles that we witnessed from Claire being brought back to life to, the four of you being there on that trail at that time.”

The Walengas reported no prior indications of an impending storm when the lightning hit. Fortuitously, Charlotte Sachetti Weyand and Amber McManus were in the vicinity and promptly contacted 911. Simultaneously, Michael Weyand observed Clare Walenga's skin had turned blue, compelling him to initiate critical life-saving interventions.

Michael Weyand later recounted his shock, saying, “I’ve never seen anybody that color in my life before.” He continued, “I checked to see if she was breathing and she wasn’t.” Despite having no prior experience, he felt compelled to act. “Instinctually I started to CPR, which instinctually is not something I do every day,” he explained. “I’ve never done CPR before in my life. But in that moment, I knew I had to start.”

Aaron Walenga, a father of three, found himself incapacitated by intense pain, rendering him unable to assist his wife. He described his ordeal: “I wanted to get to Clare, and I just couldn’t get up. I couldn’t really move, and I was in the worst pain of my life.”

As chest compressions were being administered to Clare Walenga, she suddenly took a “massive breath” just moments before mouth-to-mouth resuscitation was to begin. Tiffany Roby, another witness at the scene, remarked on the overwhelming emotion, stating, “I don’t know how to describe the feeling.”

According to an account shared on social media by ULTIMAHORAENX on September 19, 2026, the lightning struck their umbrella as the couple walked hand-in-hand. Both fell, with Clare losing consciousness. The Apopka residents, Clare and Aaron, were subsequently hospitalized. Clare sustained a concussion, while Aaron suffered facial bruises. They expressed immense gratitude to the Good Samaritans for their crucial role in saving Clare's life. Aaron reiterated, “There were so many miracles that we witnessed from Claire being brought back to life to, the four of you being there on that trail at that time.” Clare added, “The gift of life that we have is just so beautiful.”

A fundraising effort launched for the Walengas has garnered over $65,000. Family members reported that Clare showed "significant progress" within two days of the incident, stating, “We have seen God answer so many prayers, and Clare and Aaron have come a long way in such a short amount of time. We remain hopeful and thankful as they continue on the road to recovery.” The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that the annual odds of being struck by lightning are less than one in a million, with nearly 90% of victims surviving. However, the report noted a recent increase in lightning-related fatalities.