HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — An 11-year-old boy struck by lightning in Riverview on June 30 is home and expected to make a full recovery, according to his father.

Derek Stock said his son, Levi, was discharged from the hospital yesterday.

What You Need To Know

  • Levi Stock, 11, is home and doing well after being struck by lightning on June 30

  • Levi's dad, Derek, says his son has some burns and pain in his legs but is expected to make a full recovery

  • Derek stock performed CPR on his son while waiting for first responders and urges the public to learn the life-saving skill

  • Read previous coverage here

"He's just fighting some of the pain at this point in both lower legs, but that's essentially the extent of it," Derek Stock said. 

Stock said he, his wife, Kristen, Levi, and their youngest daughter, Ivy, spent the day swimming and fishing at Beer Can Island Thursday. While the weather was beautiful at first, Stock said they noticed a storm rolling in later in the afternoon.

"We were maybe the first or second boat off that island, thinking we just needed to be a little bit proactive and try to beat the storm," Stock said. "In my mind, I'm thinking, you know, 'Once we get to the river and in the river, we'll be a little bit more protected by the mangroves and all the structures around.'"

Stock said Levi was at the front of the boat, ready to be the first one off to get the trailer to get the boat out of the water. It was about 100 feet from the dock that he was struck.

"I saw the strike — he went over the starboard side, and all his joints locked up, chin down, just like a knockout ultimate fighting or something," Stock said.

Stock pulled his son from the water, and because his family's boat was damaged, another boat nearby got Levi to the dock. That's where Stock said he began performing CPR before first responders arrived and took Levi to the hospital.

"Basically, he left the scene with me not seeing him breathing," Stock said.

According to Stock, Levi's first day in the hospital was a difficult one, but he improved steadily after that. He said he was sent home with pain medication and burn ointment, but is expected to be fine. Stock thanked the community for their prayers for Levi and his family.

"I've been saying, I don't understand God's plan and why God wanted that to happen, but God's got bigger plans for him,' Stock said of his son. "He's alive still. He's here with us."

Stock also urged the public to consider getting certified in CPR. He told Spectrum News that medical personnel at the hospital told him the CPR he performed on Levi likely improved his outcome.