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A Florida couple said they experienced nothing short of a miracle earlier this month when a bolt of lightning suddenly struck them during an evening stroll and sparked a frantic rescue by several good Samaritans whose heroism was caught on camera.
In an interview with Digital, Aaron Walenga, 48, and his wife, Clare, 43, recounted the harrowing moment in Winter Haven that left Aaron disoriented and paralyzed on the ground, police bodycam video shows, as bystanders rushed in to perform lifesaving measures on his unconscious wife.
“I couldn’t move the way I wanted to,” Aaron said. “I’m trying to get up. I am trying to get to Clare … I’m trying to talk, and I’m not really able to.”
Aaron and Clare said the incident happened Sept. 2, after the couple dropped off their three children at a weekly church youth group gathering.
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Aaron and Clare Walenga, center, reunite with the four good Samaritans who helped save their lives after the Florida couple was struck by lightning on Sept. 2. They were identified as Charlotte, Michael, Amber and Tiffany. (Walenga family)
“We dropped our kids off at church, and we use that as our date night, and we looked forward to it,” he said. “So we went out and had dinner and then, we love to go for a walk.”
As they walked hand in hand along the popular West Orange Trail, a nearby storm quickly rolled in and a bolt of lightning struck the couple without warning.
The next thing Aaron remembers was waking up in severe pain and confused.
“My first thought was that we got hit by a car,” he said. “I thought maybe a car just ran us over from behind because getting struck by lightning is nothing that would even enter our minds,” Aaron said.
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While still disoriented, Aaron said he saw bystanders and first responders tending to his unresponsive wife.
Four good Samaritans had apparently rushed to the scene, immediately calling 911 and performing CPR on Clare before responders arrived roughly 10 minutes later, the couple said. Witnesses told Clare that she had turned blue and stopped breathing for three to four minutes.
“I like to talk about the amount of bravery that they showed . . . they could see the fence beside them that lit up,” Aaron said. “It was a big moment to turn around and then go, ‘Hey, I think we need to go that direction.’ And they did.”
A hospital visit revealed that Aaron suffered fractured eye sockets, a broken nose, damaged teeth, facial cuts and burns on his hand and wrists, where he was holding an umbrella and wearing an Apple Watch.
Aaron and Clare Walenga recover in the hospital after the Florida couple was struck by lightning on Sept. 2. (Walenga family)
Despite undergoing a traumatic event, Aaron and Clare described their recovery as “miraculous,” noting that they suffered serious conditions, including brain bleeds and heart damage, that they said completely healed within two days.
“We’re just seeing miracle after miracle and just too many divine things in this unfortunate circumstance to not be noted,” Clare said.
“We both had brain bleeds, and then I also suffered heart damage. And then when they followed up again two days later, it was healed. Neither of us had any brain bleed damage and my heart situation completely healed,” she added.
Clare, who suffered intermittent memory loss, regained her full memory roughly two days later.
“God’s not done with me yet,” Clare said, adding that she feels immense gratitude to be alive.
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Aaron and Clare Walenga pose with their daughter and two sons at a home. (Walenga family)
Since the incident, the family said they have built a strong relationship with the good Samaritans who stepped in that day, adding that they are even planning to return to the trail in a few weeks.
The couple said they are overwhelmed by the support they have received from their local church, neighborhood and school communities.
Their pastor also helped bring their children safely home on the night of the lightning strike.
“Our neighbors are taking care of our yard and our pool for us, so it’s just so many things happening without us even asking,” Aaron said.
Aaron and Clare Walenga pose with their family in front of an Air Force jet. Aaron served in the Air Force for 24 years before retiring two years ago. (Walenga family)
“It’s very humbling to know that people out there really care for you, and to see the church the way it’s supposed to be, where it’s not just in a building. It’s really the people that are around you, and it’s been amazing to watch.”
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Throughout the ordeal, the couple said they never felt hopeless, crediting their faith for helping them through the shocking experience.
“We’ve never asked ‘Why me?’” Aaron said. “We never got upset, we never felt hopeless. We really felt like even though it was a hard situation . . . God’s been with us and there’s a purpose behind it.”
