When Aaron and Clare Walenga headed out for their routine date night in early September, they had no idea their ordinary evening walk would turn into a life-threatening emergency that would test their faith. The Florida couple now credits divine intervention for their miraculous recovery after being struck by lightning while walking hand-in-hand along a popular trail.
The incident occurred on September 2 when the Winter Garden couple dropped their three children at a church youth group event. Aaron, 48, and Clare, 43, decided to enjoy dinner together before taking a stroll on the West Orange Trail, as they often did during their children’s activities.
The strike and immediate aftermath
As the couple walked together holding hands, a storm system moved through the area. Lightning struck both of them simultaneously, causing them to collapse on the trail. Aaron regained consciousness first, experiencing intense pain and disorientation.
“My first thought was that we got hit by a car,” he said. “I thought maybe a car just ran us over from behind because getting struck by lightning is nothing that would even enter our minds.”
Aaron’s immediate concern was reaching his wife, but his body wasn’t responding properly.
“I couldn’t move the way I wanted to,” he said. “I’m trying to get up. I am trying to get to Clare … I’m trying to talk, and I’m not really able to.”
Life-saving intervention from strangers
Four people nearby witnessed the strike and immediately rushed to assist. Among them were Amber McManus and Charlotte Sachetti Weyand, who called 911 and provided critical aid. Clare’s condition was particularly dire—she had stopped breathing and turned blue. The bystanders performed CPR for several minutes until emergency medical personnel arrived. Both victims were transported to Orlando Regional Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
Extensive injuries and remarkable healing
The lightning strike caused severe trauma to both individuals. Aaron sustained fractured eye sockets, a broken nose, damaged teeth, facial lacerations, and burns on his hands and wrists. Clare suffered a concussion and experienced short-term memory loss.
Medical examinations revealed brain bleeds in both Aaron and Clare, and doctors discovered heart damage in Clare. However, when physicians conducted follow-up examinations just two days later, the results were stunning. The brain bleeds in both patients had healed completely without permanent damage, Clare’s heart condition had resolved, and she had regained her full memory.
“We’re just seeing miracle after miracle and just too many divine things in this unfortunate circumstance to not be noted,” Clare said.
“God’s not done with me yet,” she added.
Faith and community support
The couple attributes their recovery to prayer and their strong faith. Clare told WESH 2, “Between all the prayer, I’ve never felt my spirit soar like it has,” adding that she could constantly feel the Lord’s presence during the first three to five days.
Their church community mobilized immediately to provide practical support. The pastor ensured their children got home safely that evening, while neighbors maintained their yard and pool during their hospitalization. Aaron reflected that this experience demonstrated the true meaning of church community—people actively caring for one another beyond the walls of a building.
“We’ve never asked ‘Why me?'” Aaron said. “We never got upset, we never felt hopeless. We really felt like even though it was a hard situation… God’s been with us and there’s a purpose behind it.”
The couple has expressed their intention to return to the trail for another walk, demonstrating their resilience and refusal to be defined by this traumatic event.
