6-Year-Old Boy Found Breathing Next To Dead Father After Being Struck By Lightning

KEY POINTS

Matthew Boggs was walking back home with his two sons when the lightning strike took place
The 11-year-old son said he initially thought his father and brother were playing a joke on him
The father was pronounced dead at the scene

A 34-year-old father was killed and his 6-year-old child was injured after being struck by lightning in Bosque County, Texas.

Matthew Boggs was walking back home from the Valley Mills bus stop with his two sons, 6-year-old Grayson Boggs and 11-year-old Elijah Boggs, when the lightning strike took place Monday, according to KWTX.

"Matthew, Grayson, and Elijah were walking down the driveway after getting off the bus, when lightning came out of the sky without warning, and entered Matthew's body and traveled to Grayson, since they were holding hands," read a GoFundMe page set up for the family.

Elijah, who witnessed his father and brother getting struck by the lightning, said he initially thought they were playing a joke on him.

"I was really scared. I rolled Grayson over and he was kind of smiling a little bit. I thought they were just joking, but when I rolled my dad over the middle of his head was bleeding and his face was already purple," Elijah told KWTX.

Bosque County Deputies and North Bosque Emergency Medical Service arrived at the location and found Matthew, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

First responders found Grayson injured and unresponsive but still breathing. After being rushed to the hospital, Grayson was put on a ventilator and had seizures, the GoFundMe page said.

"The doctors have told us that because he was hit by lightning, their main concerns are his heart, lungs, and kidney damage," read the fundraising page. "The next 72 hours are crucial."

Sheriff Trace Hendricks of the Bosque County Sheriff's Office released a statement and said: "Our prayers are with the family as they mourn the loss of a family member and pray for a full recovery of a young child."

A family member said the deceased father told his son he loved him as they held hands during his final moments.

"He just got done telling Grayson—he said, 'I love you buddy.' That's when the lightning came down," a family member said.

The family hopes that Grayson will survive and recover from the incident.

"God's got it. I believe that, that's my faith. God has him in his healing arms right now," the family member added.