Family who lost son in storm donates lightning detectors

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NAPLES, Fla.- Three years ago, 11-year-old Jesse Watlington was killed by a lightning strike while at football practice. Now, his family is turning tragedy into a lifelong mission, making sure local schools have detectors to keep your kids safe.

“He was very caring and very giving,” said Jesse Watlington’s mother, Alda.

“We’re just not made to live to see our children die,” said Jesse Watlington’s father, Chuck.

On Oct. 3, 2012, the Watlingtons’ only son was headed to football practice at McGregor Baptist Church when he was struck by lightning. Four days later, the 11-year-old was taken off life support and died.

“Our lives were just completely ruined,” said Chuck Watlington. “If my heart was made of 100 tiny LED lights, 99 of them are burned out.”

For the past three years, it’s been the Watlingtons’ mission to place lightning detection systems at private schools across the state.

“I think that’s what Jesse would like,” said Alda Watlington. “To keep the kids safe.”

So, they started the Jesse Watlington Memorial Foundation and are donating 50 Weatherbug detection systems to private schools. So far, they’ve installed 25 and another 15 are waiting to have the systems installed.

On Tuesday, only WINK News was at Seacrest Country Day School in Naples as the school thanked the Watlingtons for donating a lightning detection system to them. The school will hang a plaque outside of the gymnasium for all to see.

The Watlingtons now live in Orlando, but say they’ll continue to travel across the state and someday, around the country, to protect other children. The way Jesse would have wanted it.

“It makes Jesse’s life worthwhile,” said Alda Watlington. “He’s still doing something for somebody else.”

The Watlingtons are looking for more private schools to donate to. For more information you can go to lightningfoundation.org.

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