Family and friends honor life of teenager killed in lightning strike in Davie Park

FORT LAUDERDALE – Family and friends gathered on Monday to celebrate the life of Ethan Lawrence, who died eight days ago after striked by Thunderbolt in a Davie park.

Among the mourners was running coach Elliott Mason, who advised Lawrence.

“There was a race on July 4. A minute’s silence was observed in honor of his death,” he said.

Lawrence, a competitive runner, died suddenly while running in Vista View Park on June 30. A witness saw him fall to the ground. A lightning strike was reported in the area at around 10:20 a.m.

According to the Broward County Parks Department, the park has lightning warning systems that are activated when lightning is likely to strike. The county says the systems are 97% accurate. A park employee confirmed that the alarms went off shortly after the lightning struck. Lawrence collapsedAt the time of the incident, the park was closed due to weather-related safety reasons.

His family talked about their loss the next day.

“We are all suffering, he was a gentle giant,” said Ethan’s mother Lourdes Lawrence.

Lawrence, a native of Pembroke Pines, was a runner at Jacksonville University and was about to transfer to Nova Southeastern University to study law. Lawrence’s girlfriend Andrea Medina gave birth to the couple’s daughter six months ago.

Lawrence was described as a “beautiful, smart, athletic, wonderful young man” in a Facebook post by family friend Sarah Ramsey.

Lawrence’s funeral will be held at Potential Church on Stirling Road in Cooper City.