Their lives were upended in a flash.
A Saturday lightning strike at the St. Augustine Pier critically injured an elderly man, leaving him unable to care for himself or his wife, who suffers from advanced dementia.
The incident has now prompted the Schuyler family to seek public support for mounting medical and caregiving needs.
According to relatives, the Philip Schuyler—who is in his 80s—was standing on the pier with his wife, Diana and daughter Jayme when the bolt touched down.
“He took the full force of the strike,” his grandchild shared. “It entered his body, exited through his hands and feet, and threw him violently to the ground, causing additional injuries to his heart and face.”
Emergency responders transported him to the ICU before he was airlifted to a specialized unit in Gainesville, where he remains in intensive care.
Jayme suffered minor injuries. His wife, who has advanced dementia, was not physically harmed, despite being just steps away from him when the lightning hit.
“My grandfather has been her sole caregiver,” a relative said. “Now he can’t care for her. He can’t care for himself.”
With no local support network and immediate needs for both short- and long-term care, the family launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the daunting costs.
They are seeking $250,000 to assist with ICU care, medical airlifts, neurological and cardiac treatment, and rehabilitation, as well as in-home care for the man’s wife.
“This is one of the hardest things we’ve ever faced, and we don’t know what the road ahead will look like,” the family stated. “What we do know is this: We cannot do it alone.”
The man’s grandchild noted that he has always been a strong and independent presence in the family.
“He’s worked hard all his life and always taken care of everyone else, including raising me and taking care of my grandmother,” they said. “But now he can’t even lift himself from the hospital bed.”
“Whether you give, share, or simply say a prayer—we are truly grateful,” they wrote.
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