Boy hit by lightning dies in hospital FORT MYERS, Fla., Oct. 8 (UPI) -- An 11-year-old boy who was struck by lightning died after he was taken off life-support at Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital, his family said. Jesse Watlington, of Fort Myers, was struck Wednesday as he walked to football practice, the Tampa Bay (Fla.) Times reported. On Sunday, the boy's family decided to take him off life-support, the report said. "Our little Angel is now in a better place, watching over us," Jesse's father, Chuck Watlington, wrote on a social media page dedicated to his son. Chuck Watlington asked that people wear purple -- Jesse's favorite color -- Monday in remembrance of him.