Jake Rosencranz, 29, was enjoying a long-awaited honeymoon in Florida with his wife Leah when disaster struck on June 20. While walking into ankle-deep water at New Smyrna Beach, he was fatally struck by a rare “blue sky lightning strike,” despite clear skies.
“It was the most crackling, electrical hit you could imagine – I mean like fierce,” one witness recalled. Jake immediately collapsed. A nearby nurse began CPR as bystanders rushed to help. “You could tell it was bad because they started chest compressions immediately,” another witness said.
Volusia County Beach Safety confirmed CPR and life-saving measures were attempted at the scene. “He was transported from the scene unresponsive, and he sadly lost his life from the injuries he sustained,” said Director Tamra Malphurs.
Jake and Leah had been married since 2023 and lived together in Denver. “At 29 years old, he should have had many more anniversaries with her,” said Sheriff Mike Chitwood. A GoFundMe in Jake’s memory has raised over $140,000, as loved ones mourn the heartbreaking loss.
