An eight-year-old girl, Kinslee Tschida, was killed by a lightning strike in rural Serena, Illinois, on Friday evening as she headed indoors from playing in her garden. The family had heard thunder and begun moving inside, but she was struck before reaching shelter. The tragedy highlights how quickly lightning can turn deadly, even when a family reacts promptly to the first warning signs of a storm.

Kinslee had been outside with her mother, Meghan Scheib, along with her uncle, aunt and younger cousins when a thunderstorm rolled in. Her uncle, familiar with lightning detection, recognised the danger immediately and urged everyone inside, but Kinslee was struck just 20 feet from safety. Her grandfather, Chris Scheib, described the loss as "unfathomable", noting the family had also lost their dog earlier that same day. Kinslee's mother reportedly witnessed the strike, seeing her daughter "in sparks".