Couple Survives Lightning Strike and Opens Up About Terrifying Moments: ‘I Couldn’t See or Move My Legs.’

A couple survives a lightning strike and opens up about the terrifying moments: “I couldn’t see or move my legs,” Aaron Walegna said as he described the strange event that changed his life. 

Couple’s Evening Walk Takes a Terrifying Turn

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Aaron and his wife Clare had just dropped their children off at church youth group. With a little time together, they headed out for a walk along the West Orange Trail in Winter Garden, Florida.

It was an ordinary Wednesday evening. Then, in a terrifying instant, everything changed. One minute they were out for a stroll, reconnecting as spouses, and the next they were on the ground. 

Bystanders Rush to Help After the Lightning Strike

Thankfully, help was nearby, and Amber McManus and Charlotte Sachetti Weyand witnessed the frightening scene. They saw sparks coming from a fence and called 911. During the call, concern grew over whether Clare was still breathing. The dispatcher instructed a bystander to begin chest compressions, and first responders arrived moments later.

Those people were there when Aaron and Clare desperately needed help.

Aaron, 48, drifted in and out of awareness. He couldn’t see, and his limbs wouldn’t respond the way he wanted. But through the pain he described as the worst of his life, one concern rose above everything else. He needed to get to his wife. He needed to make sure she was okay too.

Couple Is Rushed to the Hospital in Critical Condition

Both were taken to Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition. Their evening walk had become a fight for survival. Yet two weeks later, the couple was able to share a story filled with gratitude, faith, and what they described as miracles.

“There were so many miracles that we witnessed from Clare being brought back to life,” Aaron said.

Prayer Surrounds Them During Their Recovery

Clare, 43, suffered a concussion and short-term memory loss. Aaron was left with facial bruising. As they recovered, prayers surrounded them, and Clare described a closeness to God that stayed with her through those first difficult days.

“Between all the prayer, I’ve never felt my spirit soar like it has,” Clare said.

Their recovery brought relief to a community that had been praying for them. For Aaron and Clare, the people on the trail, the medical care, and the prayers became precious parts of a homecoming they could never take for granted.

Surviving the Lightning Strike Changes How They See Ordinary Moments

And they still hope to return to that trail for another Wednesday evening walk. There is something deeply tender about that hope. After nearly losing each other, they want to walk together again. Another ordinary evening. Another chance to be side by side.

Their story reminds us how precious those everyday moments are, and how much it means to have God’s presence and caring people around us when life changes without warning.

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“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1

WATCH: Couple Survives Lightning Strike and Opens Up About Terrifying Moments: ‘I Couldn’t See or Move My Legs.’

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Heather Riggleman is a believer, wife, mom, author, social media consultant, and full-time writer. She lives in Minden, Nebraska with her kids, high school sweetheart, and three cats who are her entourage around the homestead. She is a former award-winning journalist with over 2,000 articles published. She is full of grace and grit, raw honesty, and truly believes tacos can solve just about any situation. You can find her on GodUpdates, iBelieve, Crosswalk, Hello Darling, Focus On The Family, and in Brio Magazine. Connect with her at www.HeatherRiggleman.com or on Facebook.