Kameron Glasgow struggled through tears as he remembered Kenya, 31, and their two-year-old daughter Kennedi, who died after a lightning strike in Florida
Kameron Glasgow, a Margate, Florida, husband and father, broke down in tears on Monday, August 24, 2026, after lightning killed his 31-year-old wife, Kenya Glasgow, and their two-year-old daughter, Kennedi, during a family visit in the South Florida city.
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Kenya and Kennedi were struck at about 2:30pm on Sunday, August 23, after the family arrived at a relative’s home during a thunderstorm.
Margate police and fire rescue crews found the mother and child lying on the sidewalk and immediately began performing CPR. (wplg)
Both victims were taken to separate hospitals but were pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Kenya was transported to North Broward Medical Center in Deerfield Beach, while Kennedi was taken to Broward Health Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale. (People.com)
Glasgow said the family had been trying to get indoors as the rain intensified when the lightning struck.
“We saw that the rain was picking up and we just said, ‘Hey, we need to get the girls inside,’” he told local media. (CBS News)
The tragedy left Glasgow trying to comprehend the loss of his wife, whom he said had been his best friend, and one of their twin daughters.
“The worst feeling in the world, and to turn around and see your wife and your daughter there lifeless is even worse,” he said. (WPEC)
In another emotional interview, Glasgow said the loss would be especially difficult because Kenya had been part of his life for around half of his years.
“It’s gonna be tough to lose somebody that I’ve been with for half my life. 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,” he said. (WFTV)
The couple’s surviving daughter, Kensli, is Kennedi’s twin sister. She was reportedly still inside the family’s vehicle when the lightning struck her mother and sister. (People.com)
The loss has left Glasgow facing the painful task of raising Kensli without her mother and twin sister.
In a social media tribute, Glasgow described Kenya and Kennedi as bringing a special light into the lives of those around them and urged people to value their loved ones.
“I just lost my best friend. My daughter just lost her best friend,” he wrote. (NBC 6 South Florida)
A neighbour, Prince Moody, said he heard an unusually powerful strike and saw an orange glow through his window before discovering the victims outside. Moody rushed to help and called 911. (WPEC)
The incident has also highlighted the unpredictable danger posed by thunderstorms in Florida, which experiences frequent lightning during its summer storm season.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the chance of being struck by lightning in a given year is less than one in a million, although lightning can cause fatal injuries. (CBS News)
Florida has historically recorded more lightning activity and lightning-related deaths than other US states, making storm safety particularly important during the summer months.
The National Weather Service in Miami said the Margate deaths were the third and fourth lightning fatalities recorded in Florida in 2026. (NBC 6 South Florida)
For the Glasgow family, however, the statistics offer little comfort. A routine attempt to get two young children safely indoors ended in an unimaginable loss within seconds.
Margate police and fire officials have expressed condolences to the family, while the circumstances surrounding the fatal strike remain under investigation. (NBC 6 South Florida)
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As Glasgow grieves for Kenya and Kennedi, his focus now turns to Kensli, the surviving twin whose life has been changed by a devastating moment that the family could never have anticipated.
Victory Emmanuel is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
