Teen struck by lightning at First Academy school released from the hospital

ORLANDO, Fla. — A 14-year-old student who was struck by lightning at Orlando's First Academy has been released from the hospital, according to officials with ORMC.

The incident happened Tuesday after a lightning strike sent a shock across the grounds of the school at about 12:08 p.m. during lunch.

An Orlando police officer at the school told Channel 9 that the student was shocked while standing in a parking lot and near a tree when the lightning struck.

The school released another statement on Wednesday.

“Yesterday, at approximately 12:00 p.m., The First Academy’s safety team responded to a student incident on our campus. At the time of the incident, the school campus was experiencing inclement weather. This morning, the mother shared with us “that [the student] rested comfortably last night and is doing very well. The doctors weren’t able to determine exactly what happened yesterday, but we are thankful that he was released from the hospital today. We’re hopeful that he’ll return to school this week. I appreciate everyone at The First Academy for their prayers and love. I would also like to thank the EMS workers and first responders at The First Academy for their wonderful response to yesterday’s incident.

The First Academy is very thankful for our campus safety team who engaged the student immediately, as well as the professional EMS workers who were on campus within minutes. We are grateful for the lightning alert system that was in place and working properly. As with every student incident on campus, our safety team conducts a thorough review of all safety policies and procedures and their implementation.

As mentioned previously, the safety of our students is our highest concern. We will continue to keep our school families updated on our safety policies and procedures through internal communications. “

The teen boy who was injured when lightning struck a tree at his school, First Academy, yesterday has been released from the hospital. @WFTV

— Lauren Seabrook (@LSeabrookWFTV) August 17, 2016

The teen, who was responsive, was taken by ambulance to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital. The teen is stable, officials said.

First Academy sent parents a letter explaining that a student was injured during lunch hour, but did not explain why the student was outside.

Eyewitness News asked school administrators to point out which tree was hit, but they said for security reasons, it’s a closed campus.

No other information was released.

Channel 9 learned the school has two lightning strike detection systems, but school officials won’t say if the systems were working when the lightning hit.

The technology for the systems was paid for by the Jesse Watlington Foundation.

The non-profit has funded lightning detention systems at 40 schools, after its 11-year-old namesake was killed by a strike in 2012.

His father and foundation vice president said the first two systems were donated to the First Academy.

He believes they were working and registering any lightning within 10 miles.

OUC on scene now near a group of trees and power poles. @WFTV pic.twitter.com/6GBw3TVPHZ

— Lauren Seabrook (@LSeabrookWFTV) August 16, 2016

This is the statement provided by First Academy. Does not mention lightning. Letter was also sent to parents. @WFTV pic.twitter.com/cQa9S7o4vl

— Lauren Seabrook (@LSeabrookWFTV) August 16, 2016

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