A 14-year-old Florida boy who nearly lost his life after being struck by lightning while playing soccer is finally back home — and the first responders who helped save him made sure his return was one he would never forget.
Kevin Peluffo was playing soccer with friends at the Sea and Sand Mobile Home Park in Boynton Beach on Aug. 23 when a lightning strike sent him collapsing to the ground.
The situation immediately became life-threatening. Kevin’s heart stopped, and people nearby began CPR while emergency crews raced to the scene.
Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Deputy Claudia Abreu-Perez was among the first responders to arrive. She recalled seeing Kevin lying on the soccer field as CPR was already being performed.
When she reached him, the teenager had no detectable pulse and had turned blue.
Abreu-Perez immediately began chest compressions and continued the lifesaving effort until Kevin showed signs of responding. She said it took nearly four minutes before she was able to detect a pulse.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue paramedics then took over Kevin’s care and rushed him to a trauma center.
What followed was a long and frightening recovery for Kevin and his family.
The teenager remained hospitalized for weeks and even celebrated his 14th birthday in the hospital. His mother, Sandra Peluffo, has said his recovery has required therapy and rehabilitation, and the family still expects more work ahead as he continues healing.
But by early October, Kevin had made enough progress to return home.
On Oct. 7, the same deputies and firefighter-paramedics who had responded to the emergency came back to see him — this time under much happier circumstances.
The group brought a hot meal for Kevin’s family along with replacement soccer equipment, including new cleats and a soccer ball. Some of Kevin’s belongings had been damaged during the lightning strike.
Video from the reunion showed Kevin back on his feet, kicking a soccer ball around with his rescuers and sharing emotional hugs with the people who had helped keep him alive.
For Abreu-Perez, however, the remarkable rescue was simply part of doing her job.
“I don’t feel heroic or anything,” she said, adding that she was grateful her training allowed her to respond properly when Kevin needed help most.
Kevin now hopes to gradually return to a more normal routine, including school — and eventually the soccer field.
His case also highlights how crucial immediate CPR can be after a lightning strike.
The National Weather Service says lightning victims do not retain an electrical charge and are safe to touch. If someone is unresponsive and has stopped breathing or has no pulse, CPR and an automated external defibrillator, if available, can be critical while emergency crews are on the way. National Weather Service
The agency also warns that there is no safe place outdoors when thunderstorms are nearby. Anyone who hears thunder should immediately move into a substantial building or an enclosed, hard-topped vehicle and remain sheltered for at least 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard. National Weather Service
For Kevin and his family, the reunion marked a dramatic milestone after weeks of uncertainty — and gave the teenager a chance to thank the people whose quick actions helped give him another opportunity to lace up his cleats.
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