Florida Teen Who Survived a Lightning Strike Gets New Soccer Gear From the First Responders Who Helped Save His Life

Kevin’s soccer cleats were destroyed when lightning struck him on a Boynton Beach field in August. This month, the first responders who helped save his life came back to check on him, and to replace them.

A 14-year-old boy who survived a lightning strike in August is back home, and the first responders who helped save him paid him a visit bearing gifts.

The Florida teen, Kevin, was playing soccer with his friends in a Boynton Beach neighborhood on Sunday, August 23, when he was struck by lightning, prompting Palm Beach County Fire Rescue to rush to the scene at around 2:30 in the afternoon.

Kevin’s 12-year-old friend, Bentley Hernandez, who was nearby with his bike, recalled to CBS12 that he heard a loud boom, then saw Kevin fall. There were about 20 children playing when the rain started to pour, and several kids rushed to take cover before the lightning struck.

Among the responders who rushed to Kevin’s rescue was Deputy Claudia Abreu Perez of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office, who arrived first.

In a video shared by the sheriff's office, she said bystanders were already performing CPR on Kevin when she got there, and he had no pulse and "was blue.”

Taking over, she began chest compressions, and it took about four minutes before she found a pulse, saying she was "very relieved" when she did. She kept going until Palm Beach County Fire Rescue arrived, after which paramedics rushed Kevin to the hospital, and the deputy located his mother, Sandra Peluffo.

It took weeks for Kevin to recover, and he celebrated his 14th birthday in the hospital. Peluffo told CBS12 that he is now home while he continues to undergo therapy and rehabilitation.

On October 7, firefighters and paramedics who assisted Kevin visited to check on him, bringing a hot meal for the family.

Deputies visited as well, including Deputy Abreu Perez, bringing gifts for Kevin, whose soccer cleats had been destroyed during the lightning strike. They gave him new ones, along with a soccer ball and other items. Video shared by the sheriff's office also showed the responders playing soccer with Kevin and sharing a hug.

Looking back at the August incident, Abreu-Perez said she did not feel “heroic,” and she was only glad she had done her job well enough to save Kevin’s life.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover Kevin's medical and rehabilitation costs, and more than $5,000 had reportedly been raised.

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue officials say Kevin's story is also a reminder about lightning safety. "The safest place to be during a thunderstorm is going to be indoors," said Elyse Carhart, a community education supervisor with the department. She also recommends the "30-30 rule." If thunder follows lightning within 30 seconds, seek shelter, and wait at least 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before going back outside.