A 15-year-old Erie boy, Levi Strobel, was killed by a lightning strike on Mt. Blue Sky while trying to protect his younger brother, according to his family.
According to the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office, Levi was struck and killed during a lightning storm around 1:22 p.m. near the summit of the mountain.
His younger brother, Jace, was injured and airlifted to a Denver-area hospital.
The brothers were part of a five-person hiking group, with two adult men in the party suffering minor injuries and not being hospitalized.
Clear Creek County public safety agencies received a report at 1:22 p.m. Sunday of a lightning strike, and the Clear Creek Fire Authority, Clear Creek EMS, Denver Mountain Parks, Alpine Rescue Team and the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.
Denver Mountain Parks rangers began lifesaving efforts on Levi, but he could not be revived.
The Strobel family released a detailed statement mourning their loss and highlighting their son’s heroism in his final moments.
“Our family is heartbroken by the sudden death of our beloved Levi, who was struck by lightning on Mt. Blue Sky yesterday. Levi was deeply loved as a son, brother, family member, and friend. He brought immeasurable joy into the world and into the lives of everyone who knew him. That joy was rooted in his relationship with Jesus Christ and nurtured by the deep love he shared with his family.”
The family emphasized Levi’s selflessness even in his final moment.
“In his final moments, Levi showed the courage and selflessness that characterized his life, seeking to protect his younger brother, who was with him on the mountain. He was a brave and loving brother, and we will always remember the devotion he showed to those he loved.”
The family also shared their faith as a source of strength during the tragedy.
“Although our grief is profound, we hold firmly to the hope Levi shared with our family: faith in Jesus Christ, who is able to save and who promises eternal life to those who trust in Him. That hope is sustaining us now.”
The Strobels expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support they have received from their community.
“We are grateful for the compassion, prayers, and support that have been extended to our family.”
However, the family has also requested privacy as they grieve.
“We respectfully ask members of the media and the public to give Levi’s family the privacy and space needed to grieve and begin processing this tragedy. We will not be offering interviews or further details at this time.”
The family ended their statement with a request that Levi’s memory be honored in a meaningful way.
“Please honor Levi’s memory by remembering his joyful spirit, his faith, his bravery, and the love he showed for his family.”
In the viral moment that became widely reported across national media, the Strobel family’s statement revealed one of the most remarkable details from the tragedy: that in his final moments on the mountain, 15-year-old Levi had instinctively moved to protect his younger brother Jace when the lightning struck their hiking group near the 14,000-foot summit.
The lightning report from Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office reported there were 29 strikes within five miles of the summit when these people were struck.
The moment encapsulated what the family had always known about their son—his character was defined by courage and devotion to those he loved, qualities that persisted even in the face of a sudden and deadly natural disaster.
This was the first lightning strike death in Colorado since September 2025, when two 25-year-old men were struck and killed while hunting in the national forest in Conejos County, which were the only lightning fatalities in Colorado last year.