Lightning strike kills 20-year-old Disney College Program intern days after moving to Florida

A 20-year-old intern died after being struck by lightning – just days into his life-changing move to Florida to attend the Disney College Program.

Matthew Jenkins was struck by lightning and found unresponsive near a hotel in Celebration on Tuesday evening, Osceola County Sheriff’s Office told WESH.

Jenkins’ dad told WESH his son, from Shelby Township, Michigan, just moved to the Sunshine State last week to start the Disney College Program.

Matthew Jenkins was running in a park near the Celebration Hotel on Bloom Street when a sudden thunderstorm forced him to seek shelter under a tree, according to a report from the Osceola County Medical Examiner’s office.

Matthew Eric Jenkins, 20, of Michigan, died after he was found unresponsive Tuesday near downtown Celebration after a lightning strike.
Family Handout

Witnesses said another group was sheltering from the rain when lightning struck around 6:30 p.m.

They then noticed a young man had collapsed.

“As soon as I heard that, I started running and I came over here [where it happened],” said witness Felipe Costa. “That’s when I saw the man.”