Wife Saves Husband's Life After Lightning Strike 'I Thought I Was A Widow'
GOLDEN, Colo. (CBS4)- A wife may have saved her husband's life after he was struck by lightning and was completely unresponsive outside their home in Golden Gate Canyon.
Jerry Leenheer, 71, was airlifted to St. Anthony's Hospital on Wednesday afternoon where he continued to recover on Friday. He nearly died after he was struck my lightning but survived thanks to the quick thinking of his wife, Cora Jean Leenheer, who wasn't ready to say goodbye.
"He was lying there, no pulse, not breathing, his eyes were open and staring," said Cora Jean.
Jerry and his beloved dog, Josie, had been struck by lightning while he trimmed trees in the woods near their home.
"They were both dead. His hat was blown to pieces and his shirt was just in shreds," said Cora Jean.
She was without cell reception and her calls for help went unanswered.
"I just started doing chest compressions right away, praying and telling him to come back, I wasn't going to let him go... I thought I was a widow," she said.
Fifteen minutes went by and she was finally able to flag down a neighbor to call for help. Twenty minutes after Cora Jean began CPR, Jerry took a breath.
"'Oh, God, thank you,' I just started crying. I was just delighted that he was back," said Cora Jean.
Unfortunately their dog did not make it. But as Jerry recovers, he is surrounded by family that includes his son Andrew, who is in awe of his mother.
"So impressed with how clear-headed she was through this situation, how she was thinking about the right things to do," said Andrew.
Jerry is awake and knows what happened, although he is a little confused. The couple who just celebrated 41 years of marriage is now looking forward to more time together.
"He said, 'I guess I owe you my life,'" said Cora Jean.
Jerry will likely be moved out of the intensive care unit on Friday and may be released from the hospital as early as Saturday.
