ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The family of 17-year-old Miguel Smet said he was doing well physically one day after being struck by lightning in downtown St. Petersburg.

They told Spectrum News he was focused on the recovery of a friend who remained hospitalized after she was also hit by the bolt.

What You Need To Know

  •  Family of Miguel Smet, one of the teens struck by lightning in St. Petersburg Thursday, was doing physically well one day later

  •  Miguel's family said he and two others hit by the bolt have been released from the hospital

  •  Family of a fourth teen, 16-year-old Ashley King, said she remained hospitalized as of Friday evening

  • Read previous coverage here

"Very powerful. I mean, it's a feeling like in one second, you can lose everything," Miguel's mother, Eva Cano-Fernandez, said of her son surviving the ordeal.

Family members said Miguel, a rising senior at Hollins High School, and three friends were sheltering from the rain under the tree when it happened. That spot is well known to all of them.

"When I was a kid, I used to go to those banyan trees all the time," said Miguel's father, Benjamin Smet. "When they, my sons, were old enough, one of the first things I remember, one of the first things that I did with them is take them downtown to the banyan tree."

"They were so big to us and we were so small, and we'd be playing inside of them," said Miguel's older brother, Miles Smet.

While while his parents said Miguel was briefly knocked out by the bolt, he was able to call his mother.

"It was very frightening, because I was hearing his voice, but at the same time, I didn't know what to expect," said Cano-Fernandez.

Miguel and his friends — a 16-year-old boy and two 16-year-old girls — were taken to the hospital. His family reunited with him there. They said he's been able to give them some details about what happened.

"It literally blew them apart from each other. They all got blown in different directions," said Miles, 18. 

"He was leaning against the tree with his right shoulder, so it struck his shoulder," said Benjamin. "It seems to be he got mostly the least of it."

His family said Miguel and two of his friends are out of the hospital. One girl, who family identified as Ashley King, was still under medical care as of Friday evening. Benjamin said the other teens are offering their support.

"They all went collectively down to th hospital at 6 a.m. when the hospital opened, and they're just kind of rallying around each other to be together. I think it's actually been beautiful to see, you know, see these teenage kids caring for each other so much," said Benjamin. "Our family's hearts and prayers go out to the one that's still in the hospital - her and her family. I can't imagine. So, I just hope that she has a good recovery quick."

Ashley's father, Joe King, told Spectrum News it would be 24 hours before doctors could get images of his daughter's brain to see if there is any damage.