Man Struck by Lightning in Gulf Shores Has Passed Away

Paula Liu
By Paula Liu
August 20, 2019US News
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Man Struck by Lightning in Gulf Shores Has Passed Away
A lightning strike in a file photo. (Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images)

The man who was struck by lightning on Aug 15 in Gulf Shores, Alabama died on Aug. 18, according to a statement provided by the family.

Shelia Langham, the spokesperson for the family, provided the public with a statement she posted on Facebook, saying, “The Herronen family wanted to thank everyone for their prayers but Kris has lost his battle for life. I ask that you would Please Continue to pray for the family as they need your prayers. Thank you all again, we love you. He is in God’s army now. RIP Kristopher Herronen.”

According to WKRG 5 News, he was taken off life support on the night of Aug. 19.

According to WKRG 5 News, Herronen was struck by lightning around 2 p.m. in the afternoon on Aug. 15, while he was working at a construction site in Craft Farms.

“Please please please this is desperate need of prayer everybody that prays please say a prayer for Kris. he just got struck by lightning and it doesn’t look good he’s a young kid y’all please pray for him now is in the ambulance on the way [too],” Langham wrote on a Facebook.

Authorities were called to the scene and transported Herronen to the hospital. According to reports from the first responders Herronen suffered cardiac arrest after being hit by lightning.

Langham asked people on Facebook to pray for Herronen, and reminded people to be safe outside while there was a storm rolling by.

Herronen was taken to the South Baldwin Medical Center according to Fox 10, and Langham gave an update on his condition through Facebook on Aug 15.

“[Kristopher Herronen] is in USA Medical Center please continue to pray we are waiting word now. My sister and her husband are there but I have not heard they were in route to Foley when they got the word he had been life-flighted to USA Medical so now they’re on the way there,” she wrote.

She followed up with another post on Facebook sharing Connie Hetchler’s post, which read, “He is in ICU at USA Hospital in Mobile. He is trying to open his eyes and small movements as if trying to move his head. His Mom said he wiggles his fingers a little tonight.”

Then, on Aug. 16, Langham provided an update, and wrote, “Thank you everyone for your prayers please continue with them. I got word that Kris is ICU at USA Medical. Family was allowed to see him but he is not responding as of yet. My sister said he was trying to open his eyes but just couldn’t. Still praying for complete recovery.”

According to another post on Facebook, Herronen had a fever, and Langham’s sister had provided the unconscious 28-year-old with ice to cool him down.

In a post in the evening of Aug. 16, she shared that the doctors didn’t have much faith in Herronen’s recovery, but Langham still held hope for Herronen. She wrote that he was able to move both arms, and his eyes had responded to light.  Again, she asked the public to continue praying for Herronen.

However, things took a turn for the worse as Herronen’s brain began to swell, according to an update from Langham on Aug. 17. She wrote that Herronen still had a fever and they were constantly giving him ice to keep the fever down.

“Urgent prayer request to all prayer warriors!!!! Kristopher Herronens brain is swelling and he was packed in ice for a fever. We know God’s word is superior to any other report. They have moved him to another care unit. Please please please pray as hard as you can for a miracle for this family,” she wrote. “Please pray that the doctors give Him a chance to heal him and they have wisdom in their choices.”

Langham had compiled a list of updates in one Facebook post, which detailed Herronen’s situation, and she kept updating until Herronen passed away on Aug. 19.

Langham thanked all those who had prayed for Herronen, writing, “Thank you for your prayers. Please pray for his beloved family and many friends. May God wrap his arms around them and provide them comfort and strength. God is merciful, Kristopher is whole again.”

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