MARGATE, Fla. – A South Florida father is left shattered after a sudden lightning strike claimed the lives of his wife and one of their twin daughters Sunday afternoon, just steps from a family member’s home.
Kameron Glasgow watched in horror as a bolt of lightning struck his 31-year-old wife, Kenya, and their 2-year-old daughter Kennedi while the family tried to rush inside during a sudden storm. The couple’s other twin daughter, Kensli, was still in the car and survived. Kameron, standing only about 15 feet away, felt the ground aftershock but was unharmed.“It’s gonna be tough to lose somebody that I’ve been with for half my life,” a tearful Glasgow told reporters. “It’s just gonna be tough, but I’ll be okay, because I have to be, because I have another beautiful daughter that’s inside…”
The tragedy unfolded around 2:30 p.m. Sunday in the 7900 block of Northwest First Street in Margate. The family had just arrived for a family dinner when the weather turned. Glasgow said they saw the rain picking up and tried to get the girls inside quickly.“We saw that the rain was picking up and said, ‘Hey, we gotta get the girls inside,’” he recalled. “It’s the worst feeling in the world to turn around and to see your wife and your daughter there lifeless.”
Margate police and fire rescue rushed to the scene after a 911 call reporting two people lying on the sidewalk after being struck by lightning. First responders performed CPR and transported Kenya Glasgow to North Broward Medical Center in Deerfield Beach and Kennedi to Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale. Both were pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Kenya Glasgow worked as a program specialist for CAN Community Health, a nonprofit focused on care for people living with HIV. Friends and family described her as having “the biggest heart in the world.”
In a Facebook post, Kameron Glasgow shared his profound grief, writing that he had lost his “best friend” and that their surviving daughter had lost hers. “My babies didn’t suffer,” he said. “I’m hurt. We are hurt. But if you got the chance to feel that beautiful light my wife and daughter brought into your life, cherish it.”
The couple had been together since their senior year of high school and were approaching their fourth wedding anniversary in November.
Florida is known as the lightning capital of the United States, and late summer storms carry heightened risk. Officials continue to urge residents to seek shelter immediately at the first sign of thunder or lightning.
A GoFundMe has been set up to support Kameron Glasgow and his surviving daughter as the family begins the long road of healing.
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