ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) — Kylie Smith never imagined a summer photo shoot would end with a fight for her life.
“When I found out I got struck by lightning, my first reaction was just like, what? I didn’t really believe it,” Smith said. “You never really think that you’re gonna get struck by lightning.”
On Aug. 17, 2024, Smith and a friend were taking sunset pictures at Webster Park when a fast-moving storm rolled in. “It wasn’t even raining,” she recalled. “You could see lightning up in the sky, but I didn’t hear any thunder, so I didn’t think I was close to the storm at all.”
Witnesses: CPR helped save teen struck by lightning in Webster
Moments later, a deafening boom split the air. Smith stepped onto a small bridge — and collapsed…