FORT WORTH, Texas — Two young brothers were struck by lightning Wednesday afternoon while playing outside their home. Isaac Martinez, 7, and Jaden Alvarado, 13, are recovering at Cook Children’s Medical Center.

According to Cook Children’s, the lightning hit the tree above the boys and ricocheted onto them, bouncing off Jaden and onto Isaac. They both lost consciousness and collapsed from the impact.

“It looked like fireworks were coming down the tree,” their mother Jessica Martinez Alvarado said. “I saw the boys lying on the ground when the fireworks stopped… I thought I had lost my boys. It’s the worst feeling ever. I would never wish that on anyone.”

The brothers were rushed to Cook Children’s Medical Center Emergency Department for treatment. Doctors noticed that Jaden took the brunt of the strike and presumably experienced cardiac arrest.

On Thursday morning, the boys were moved to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Family surrounded them in support as they rested and played video games.

Jessica said they were still trying to wrap their heads around what had happened. The boys don’t even recall the incident, however, and are feeling well.

There was no rain present when the lightning hit her sons, Jessica remembered. She saw the tides turn as the lightning picked up in intensity. She was just about to call the boys inside when the lightning struck them moments later.

“They’re always outside playing. They love to play football or any kind of sports,” Jessica shared. “Their favorite thing to do is play with their dog.”

She advises parents to not let their kids outside when it’s thundering. “I know it’s a one-in-a-million chance, but you never know, you might be that one. It was two for me. Be very, very careful with your babies. Make sure you hug them and kiss them and hold them tight,” Jessica stated.

Taylor Louden, the medical director for pediatric emergency medicine at Cook’s, explained that parents need to be heedful of and have their children indoors during a severe weather threat or thunder and lightning.

“The boys came in altered and confused,” Louden said. “These boys are very lucky. We’re glad everyone came out OK in this instance.”

Usually, when someone is fatally struck by lightning, cardiac arrest is the immediate cause of death. Dr. Louden said it’s crucial for a lightning strike victim to promptly receive CPR or use an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED). Witnesses should immediately call 911.

“Fortunately, lightning strikes are very rare, but we do have to be aware [of storms], especially in Texas where storms can come out of nowhere quickly,” Dr. Louden said. “Even if storms are in the distance, you’re still at risk.”

The chances of being hit by lightning in a year are less than one in a million and almost 90% of all victims survive, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Spectrum News has more tips for lightning safety

  • If you are outside, do not seek refuge under a tall object, like a tree.
  • If you are in a swimming pool or any other large body of water, it is best to immediately exit the water until the storm passes. 
  • If indoor options are limited, it is safe to sit inside a completely covered vehicle with a metal roof.

Lightning deaths and injuries can be avoided by following the simple rule of heading indoors until the storm passes.