Tragedy as boy, 6, dies a month after lighting strike killed his dad while they were holding hands
His father was killed instantly, and the six-year-old has tragically died after spending a month in a coma on life support
Grayson Boggs, 6, was struck by lightning while holding hands with his father Matthew last month
A six-year-old Texas boy has tragically died a month after his father was struck and killed by a lightning bolt while they were holding hands.
Grayson Boggs, 6, was being picked up from the school bus by his dad Matthew, 34, on May 15 when the strike hit them, killing Matthew instantly.
Paramedics rushed Grayson to hospital and he remained in critical condition with brain damage for over a month before his death on June 16.
'Words can't describe this,' the boy's aunt wrote on social media. 'You fought so hard through it all, now you'll be able to rest my handsome funny little baby nephew'.
Grayson was rushed to hospital following the strike and remained in critical condition for weeks before his death on June 16
Pictured: Dad Matthew with his two sons Elijah and Grayson, who can be seen in a stroller
The tragic incident occurred after Matthew had picked his sons up off the school bus, and they were walking down the driveway of their family home in Valley Mills, Texas.
Matthew's mother Angela Boggs heartbreakingly revealed that the father and son expressed their love for each other just moments before the lightning strike.
'(Matthew had just got done telling Grayson that he loved him, he said 'I love you buddy', that's when the lightning came down,' Boggs told KWTX.
'I always took care of him, because he is the one god gave to me,' she added, speaking about Matthew. 'Now my responsibility is to take care of my grandbabies.'
Grayson had been quickly placed on life support in a coma following the strike, and it was later determined he had a brain injury caused by oxygen deprivation.
Grayson had been taken off a ventilator three days before his death after doctors determined his condition would not improve
Family members said he had initially shown signs of improvement, including breathing on his own and being taken off the donor list
The boy spent over a month in hospital after the strike. He is pictured with his cousin Harley (left), great grandmother Rose (center), and mother Kayla (right)
As his devastated family prayed for a recovery, they said the little boy had shown signs of improvement in recent weeks, including breathing on his own and being taken off the donor list.
But on Tuesday, almost a month after the lightning strike, doctors informed his heartbroken family that his condition would not improve, and the decision was made to take him off a ventilator.
He was placed on palliative care a day later, before he passed away at around 5am on June 16.
The day before his death, his family had posted an update on his condition to a GoFundMe set up to help pay for funeral expenses.
'It's been 1 month since tragedy struck this family,' the post said. 'The strength that this family has shown is inspiring. Grayson is still hanging on, but is on comfort care.
'Please just pray that we keep him comfortable at this time and pray for healing for the family. We may not know what God's plan is, but we know he has his arms wrapped around Grayson at this time.'
His mother Kayla announced the tragic news of her son's death on Facebook
The six-year-old had been in critical condition for over a month before his tragic death
Pictured: Angela Boggs (left) and grandson Elijah Boggs speaking after the strike
Grayson's brother Elijah, who was only a feet away when the lightning struck his dad and brother, recalled in harrowing detail the moments after the strike hit.
'I was really scared. I rolled Grayson over and he was kind of smiling a little bit,' he said.
'I thought they were just joking, but when I rolled my dad over the middle of his head was bleeding and his face was already purple.'
When first responders arrived on the scene, both father and son were unresponsive. Both reportedly lost their shoes due to the intensity of the strike.
While Matthew was pronounced dead soon after, desperate efforts to resuscitate Grayson saw him rushed to Baylor Scott & White McLane Children's Medical Center in Waco, Texas.
Doctors determined he was okay from the neck down, however they found he had suffered neurological issues and sustained a major anoxic brain injury.
Elijah (right) was just feet away from the lightning strike that killed his brother Grayson (left) and father last month
Pictured: Matthew with his wife Kayla and two of their children Elijah and Nevaeh
Family members said tributes and well wishes poured in from around the world while the boy battled in a coma.
But when doctors informed the family that Grayson's condition wouldn't improve, a decision was made to take him off his ventilator. He died three days later.
According to the CDC, lightning strikes are more frequent and deadly in the southeastern states including Texas.
From 2006 until 2021, only five states (Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Washington) and the U.S. Virgin Islands have reported no lightning deaths.
Texas was the second highest with the number of deaths over that period, with 36 people killed, Florida took the first spot with 79 deaths.
Source: Daily Mail
