Father of Lightning Strike Victim Speaks

The father of a 15-year-old girl who was struck by lightning in the family's front yard is sharing his story with FOX 5. The same bolt of lightning killed his daughter's 14-year-old friend, and it was Ceyora Taylor's father who discovered them both.

On Thursday moing, Reginald Marine walked FOX 5 reporter Doug Evans through the events of last Tuesday night.

"After the initial boom, I was worried about Ceyora, Marine said. ”So, I looked out the door and I saw Ceyora right here."

Marine was the first to find his daughter and a friend after lightning struck them in front of his Henry County home.

"I saw Ceyora laying there-- she was trying to move her arm and I thought, my, my god they've been struck by lightning, Marine said.

Ceyora was injured, and her friend—15-year-old Eric Jerrel West—was killed.

"Her eyes were rolled up in her head, Marine recalled of finding his daughter. ”I picked her up and realized she had no muscle function. I went over to Jerrel. They was only five feet apart, I ran over to him and looked at him. He was solid as a rock. No pulse. No life."

Marine said West had walked his daughter home from his own house, which is just two doors down. It had started to rain, and they sought shelter under the two trees in his front yard.

Mr. Marine said he thinks Jerrel had his hands on the tree when it was hit, and that may have been why he didn’t survive and Ceyora did.

The lightning sent waves of electricity through the yard, and even blew out some electric to the house.

Ceyora is still hospitalized with injuries.

"She is in excruciating pain, Marine said. ”She has bus to her body. Legs, feet. I think her lower back.

Her parents wanted to make sure she was strong enough before they broke the news to her about her friend’s death.

"I keep seeing, in my mind’s eye, Jerrel laying under the tree, Marine told FOX 5. ”It's sad. It's sad."

Mr. Marine says that doctors have ruled out neurological damage, but they continue to monitor her condition. The family is hopeful that she can retu home on Friday.