College freshman struck by lightning on the way to her first day of class in Florida

Emma Eggler has wanted to live at the beach her whole life, according to her mom.

So, when it came time for the 18-year-old to move from Birmingham, Alabama, to Pensacola, Florida, for her freshman year at the University of West Florida on Aug. 18, Eggler was thrilled.

“She’s exceeded all our expectations and I know she’s ready to branch out and spread her wings,” her mom wrote in an Aug. 17 Facebook post. “She’s always dreamed of living at the beach and that gets to be her reality for the next four years.”

After moving in, Eggler started her first year of college on Monday, Aug. 22. While on the way to one of her first classes, Eggler was struck by lightning.

“I did not feel anything, at all really. I just woke up on the ground,” she told WEAR-TV.

Several students ran to aid Eggler until first responders arrived, her mom said.

The bolt entered through Eggler’s chest, melting her shirt to her chest, according to a Facebook post from her mom. The lightning traveled through her body, exiting through her left foot and burning a hole through her sock and sneaker, photos show.

“Our baby is alive by the grace of God. I’m not kidding when I say it’s a miracle. The doctors have said she’s lucky to be alive,” her mom said. “I could never repay all of these kind people who helped her today.”

Immediately after she was hit, Eggler could not feel her legs, but she has regained sensation, her mom’s post says. The biggest concern was external and internal burns.

At the time she was struck, Eggler was wearing a watch, which burned her wrist. She also has burns on her neck left by a necklace she was wearing. The worst burns are on her stomach, according to her mom.

Eggler was released from University of Alabama Birmingham Hospital on Aug. 23, her mom’s Facebook says. She is scheduled for a follow up at a burn clinic on Monday before she returns to school Tuesday, Aug. 30.

“If you don’t believe in miracles talk to this child. You might change your mind,” her mom wrote.

This story was originally published August 26, 2022 at 10:44 AM with the headline "College freshman struck by lightning on the way to her first day of class in Florida."

Moira Ritter

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Moira Ritter covers real-time news for McClatchy. She is a graduate of Georgetown University where she studied government, journalism and German. Previously, she reported for CNN Business.