Family, friends honor life of teen killed in lightning strike at Davie park
COPPER CITY - Hundreds of mourners said goodbye to 19-year-old Ethan Lawrence Monday during a memorial service at Potential Church in Cooper City, Fla.
Family and friends gathered to celebrate the life of Ethan Lawrence who died eight days ago after he was struck by lightning in a Davie park.
Among the mourners was running coach Elliott Mason, who counseled Lawrence and is training Lawrence's younger brother.
"There was a race on July 4th. There was a moment of silence in observance of his passing," he said.
Lawrence, a competitive runner, died suddenly on June 30th while running in Vista View Park. A witness saw him fall to the ground. Lightning was reported in the area around 10:20 a.m.
"Two weeks before it happened," said Mason, "I saw him on the same path. He was like, 'I love it.'"
According to the Broward County Parks Department, the park does have lightning predictors that activate when lightning may hit.
The county said they are 97% accurate. A park worker confirmed that the alarms went off moments after Lawrence collapsed.
The park had been closed for weather related safety reasons at the time of the incident.
His family spoke about their loss the next day.
"We're all suffering, he was a gentle giant," said Ethan's mother Lourdes Lawrence.
"Ethan had a pure soul and made an impact on everyone he came in contact with," said Lourdes.
That includes the people Ethan ran with to raise money for charity. One such event was a race for Aden Perry, who died trying to save a driver in a canal.
Aden's mother, Sarah, is setting up a scholarship fund In Ethan's name.
Mason hopes to make a difference working with Ethan's mother to set up charitable runs in Ethan's name.
Lawrence was described in a Facebook post as a "beautiful, smart, athletic, wonderful young man" by Sarah Ramsey, a family friend.
"I know the community will come together and remember his life," he said.
Lawrence, who was from Pembroke Pines, was a runner at Jacksonville University and was in the middle of transferring to Nova Southeastern University, where he planned to pursue a law degree.
Lawrence's girlfriend, Andrea Medina, gave birth to the couple's daughter six months ago.
