Anthony Yates
A 30-year-old Pizza shop owner from Pinellas County claims he is lucky to be alive after surviving a lightning strike. He described his ordeal as the “most scared I’ve ever been in my entire life.”
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What happened: According to a report by WFTV, Travis Kurtz was checking one of his company’s properties when he was struck. His girlfriend Jessica French told the outlet, “Next thing, he remembers is waking up in his tenant’s pizzeria with the EMTs.”
- Per WRAL, Kurtz was outside a Rizzotto’s Pizzeria on a typical work day when he suddenly felt a shock. He said in an interview that the zap came out of nowhere, and the weather seemed normal at the time. Mark Rizzotto, who runs the pizzeria, told WRAL he felt the whole building shake.
- He explained he was manning the ovens at the time, and the crack was so loud he knew it had hit something. Rizzotto left the building and found Kurtz lying on the grass near a tree. He explained that Kurtz’s body was hot to the touch, and he was convulsing.
The Pizza Shop Owner Described The Feeling Of Getting Struck By Lightning
What saved his life: Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene and took Kurtz to a local hospital. Ambulance staff reportedly told him his heart rate shot up to 256BPM.
- “Every muscle in my body contracted to the point where I couldn’t function,” Kurtz recalled. “I couldn’t function. I couldn’t talk, I couldn’t walk, I couldn’t do anything. That’s the best way I can describe the amount of pain. It was unbearable.”
A long road to recovery: Kurtz stayed in the hospital for several days. According to a GoFundMe started by the family, his tests came back clear, but he was in excruciating pain with some burns and bruises. The fundraiser is asking for donations to help with hospital bills, as they will be out of work for the time being.
An update was posted on GoFundMe yesterday confirming that Kurtz left the hospital on Thursday afternoon. “He has since been recovering slowly but surely. However, he is still struggling with some memory loss and motor skills,” the post reads. Allison French added, “But he is making outstanding progress! We cannot thank you enough for the love, prayers, support, and donations!”
