How 'Superman' Boynton teen survived heart-stopping lightning strike

The lightning bolt tore through Kevin Sosa's favorite Lionel Messi soccer jersey and left his matching soccer cleats charred.

Sosa was playing soccer on Aug. 23 when lightning struck him, stopping his heart. He survived, celebrated his 14th birthday at Delray Medical Center and returned there on Oct. 28 to thank the deputies, paramedics, nurses and doctors who kept his alive.

"Thank you for saving my life," Kevin told them. "I'm going to play soccer when I get home."

Elijah Virgin, an EMC liaison for Delray Medical Center, said Sosa's survival was remarkable because only about 5% of children and 10% of adults who suffer cardiac arrest survive.

The bolt that struck Kevin came on the same Sunday that a 31-year mother and her 2-year old daughter died from a lightning strike in Broward County.

"This is a massive electrical charge that came into his chest and out of his feet," Virgin said. "Kevin, this is incredible. What happened to you and what you did. You are really Superman."

"Kevin, you are my hero," Virgin added. "I want to see you back in the soccer field."

Mom saw lightning hit son before he collapsed on Boynton soccer field

Roberto Sosa, Kevin's father, broke into tears as he recounted the incident during an Oct. 28 news conference at Delray Beach Medical Center.

It had started as a typical Sunday morning for the Sosa family. They woke up, had breakfast and Kevin put on his Messi jersey and cleats before the family walked across the street to play soccer in their neighborhood park near Boynton Beach.

Kevin and the other children divided into teams and started playing a match. Clouds moved in, but Roberto said he didn't hear any thunder or see any lightning. He felt only a light drizzle.

Then lightning struck the field.

"I was standing near him and I felt electricity run through my body, but the lightning impact went to Kevin," Roberto said, his voice cracking as he wiped tears from his face.

Sandra Pellufo, Kevin's mother, was watching the game from the sidelines. She saw the lightning strike her son before his body collapsed.

"Kevin, quédate con nosotros!" Pellufo she she screamed across the field. Kevin, stay with us!

Roberto rushed to Kevin, flipped his body over and saw that his son's face was blue.

Kevin wasn't breathing. Roberto jumped over his body and immediately began performing chest compressions - he said he had only seen in movies and tv shows.

Palm Beach County Sheriff's Deputy Claudia Abreu-Perez arrived shortly after and took over CPR. About four minutes later, she found Kevin's pulse.

When Abreu-Perez told Roberto Kevin had a pulse, he sighed as he watched the color begin to return to his son's face.

Paramedics from Palm Beach County Fire Rescue arrived six minutes after Pellufo called 911. They inserted a breathing tube and rushed Kevin to Delray Beach Medical Center.

Dr. Angela Jones, who treated Kevin in the intensive care unit, said the CPR performed by Roberto, the deputy and first responders was crucial for his recovery.

"If they hadn't done CPR on him, the time that his brain would have been without oxygen would have been much longer, and I don't think he would have seen as much of a recovery," Jones said.

Kevin came to the intensive care unit stable but unconscious, Jones said. A red fern-shaped pattern stretched across his chest, known as the Lichtenberg sign and a giveaway that the bolt had struck him. Doctors found the lightning had caused cardiac damage and neurological dysfunction.

But Kevin slowly began recovering.

He celebrated his 14th birthday at the hospital surrounded by his parents and his 16-year-old brother. His family decorated his room with balloons and a handmade sign that read "Feliz Cumpleaños Kevin."

"It's really is gratifying to see his story because he did come a long way," Jones said.

"There was a long period of time where he wasn't conscious, and any stimulation would cause him to be very dysregulated. But, to see him up and walking and talking, is a testament to the pre-hospital care that he got, both from his parents and from the first responders," Jones added.

Dr. Alexis Morell said Kevin suffered a traumatic brain injury. But because of his age, his brain's neuroplasticity can recover.

Kevin continue therapy for a month after leaving the hospital. He had just started his freshman year at Boynton Beach High School before the strike and will be homeschooled as he continues to recover.

"We do not give up," Morell said. "And so specifically for him, he's doing everything. So he's a perfect student. There's still a long road ahead, but he's going to be great."

A GofundMe page set up by Kevin's family has raised over $5,000 for his recovery.

Boynton teen has returned to soccer field where lightning struck him

Kevin Sosa had one thing on his mind after surviving a lightning strike burned through his favorite jersey and cleats: getting back on the field.

Kevin has played soccer since he was a toddler and developed into a passionate defender, practicing with his father whenever he could. His favorite players are Neymar and, of course, Messi.

After Kevin returned home, Roberto took his son back to the field where lightning had struck him.

Kevin told his father he remembers seeing him and hearing his mom's scream before everything went pitch back.

"It was weird. I still haven't made peace with the field," Pellufo said. "It's a miracle. God gave us a second chance."

"Most of the people struck by lighting don't live to tell the story," Roberto said as he wrapped his arms around Kevin and his wife.

The experience has changed the Sosa family.

Roberto said his family is closer and that he pays more attention to the weather. Even the sound of an ambulance carries a different meaning.

"Respect nature," Roberto said. "I don't have words to express how grateful I am for everything that was done by the police, the fire department and hospital to safe my son's life. This will go down in history."