Disney Cast Member Dies After Lightning Strike in Celebration, Florida

A 20-year-old Disney cast member died after he was apparently struck by lightning — just a week after he moved to Florida to work at Walt Disney World.

Matthew Eric Jenkins, of Shelby Township, Michigan, was found unresponsive Tuesday night after lightning struck nearby in downtown Celebration, Florida, which sits adjacent to Disney property, the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office said.

Jenkins’ father told WESH 2 that his son moved to Florida last week to begin the Disney College Program, an internship program at Walt Disney World for college students.

People were taking shelter on a walking path behind a hotel on Bloom Street when lightning struck near by. Moments later, witnesses saw a man — later identified as Jenkins — collapse to the ground.

Felipe Costa, who was with the group taking shelter from the storm, ran over to help Jenkins.

“As soon as I heard that, I started running and I came over here. That’s when I saw the man,” Costa told WESH 2. “There was a lady behind me. She came and started CPR also as soon as possible. We were just waiting until the first responders got there.”

Jenkins was taken to Celebration Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the sheriff’s office said.

“I had a feeling that it wasn’t good,” Costa said. “I had a feeling.”

After learning that the 20-year-old had died, Costa returned to the spot to leave a flower.

“I have so much more respect for what storms are capable of, what nature’s capable of, and we gotta learn how to respect that and know how to deal with it,” Costa said. “Taking cover during storms right now is absolutely a priority for me.”

Jenkins’ father told the outlet he was grateful to all the people who rushed to help his son.

According to Fox 35, a lightning strike was recorded around 6:25 that evening, which may have been the one seen before Jenkins collapsed.

Detectives are waiting for the medical examiner’s determination of his cause of death.

The Independent has contacted Disney for comment.