Teen struck by lightning in Siesta Key graduates from high school

SARASOTA, Fla. — A Texas teenager who was struck by lightning at Siesta Key Beach nearly four years ago has graduated from high school.

Jacob Brewer was visiting Florida from Fort Worth, Texas, in July 2020. His family noticed the sky was getting darker so they decided to leave the beach.

Seconds later, Jacob was struck by lightning and suffered cardiac arrest.

“The lightning entered his chest, traveled through his spinal cord and penetrated the nerves in his legs. The lightning was so hot and so damaging that it just fried those nerves,” said Jacob's mother, Barbara Brewer.

People, including an out-of-town DEA agent, rushed to help and performed CPR.

“They performed CPR on Jacob for over ten minutes on this beach in the middle of a storm with lightning all around us,” Barbara said.

Nearly four years later, Jacob graduated from high school. He gave a speech to his classmates as Salutatorian.

“I have increasingly mobile legs and a high school diploma, two things I thought I would never have,” Jacob said during his speech. “I'm sure many of you graduates have also once been in a dark situation. Perhaps these challenges we face are God leading us in a direction so we can help someone other who struggles in the face of adversity as I hope to do in the future with my studies.”

Jacob thanked his parents, siblings and friends who were by his side. He also appreciates so many other people, including the men who performed CPR on him and the physical therapists who worked with him.

“My friends who always make me laugh and who don't care that I'm in a wheelchair. The physiotherapists who gave everything to improve my condition. The kind people who helped our efforts financially and with their prayers, and the men who saved my life by performing CPR on me the day I was hit, and the paramedics who never gave up trying to restart my heart,” Jacob said during his graduation speech. diplomas.

Jacob hopes to help others suffering from spinal injuries.

“I mean, I hope my legs will heal over time and eventually I'll be able to walk again. I think I also want to help other people walk again in the future. That's what I what I want to do in the future with my studies,” Jacob said. .

To learn more about Jacob's journey or to support him financially, click here.