When lightning struck off Quantum Lane in East End, around 6:30am on Tuesday, Ellee Forbes was jolted out of her sleep, and she immediately knew the bolt had to have been close.
“We just didn’t know how close,” she told the Cayman Compass.
Forbes says she first realised that something was wrong when her daughter ran into her room, fell on the ground and began complaining of being in pain.
“She had the phone in her hand and the current or lightning went through her body, but it came out and her arm, and [her] body was in pain,” said Forbes.
A few minutes later, Forbes’ sister burst through her front door, shouting for her and her children to get out; that’s when they discovered that the house was on fire.
“We had to wake up the rest of the children and try to get them out,” she said.
Rankin, her 30-year-old daughter, 20-year-old son, 15-year-old daughter and 7-year-old grandson were all able to get safely out of the house.
She later learned that the lightning had struck her laundry room, setting the dryer on fire, which quickly spread to the washer and the water heater.
Before long, the entire wooden home, in which she had lived for 20 years, was belching thick, black smoke and their possessions were destroyed.
Two days later, when Compass staff spoke with Forbes, she was still in a state of shock but said she was feeling overwhelmingly grateful.
“There are so many things going through my mind. I’m shocked and I’m tired and there have been so many phone calls and messages, I’m just so grateful.”
A family member is currently housing Forbes and her children, and all their basic needs are being met. However, she says, they could use a full-size bed.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help rebuild the destroyed home, and so far they have reached $3,000 of their $100,000 goal.
People wishing to donate items are encouraged to drop them off at the Family Resource Centre, which is located at Apollo House, on Mary Street in George Town.
“We lost everything, but I’m a firm believer in God,” she said. “Now we will rebuild, and we would be grateful for any help we can get.”
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