DAVIE, FL – Lourdes Lawrence mourns her 19-year-old son Ethan Lawrence, who was tragically killed on Sunday by an apparent lightning strike while he was running at Vista View Park. The fact that Ethan was an exceptional athlete adds to the sorrow of his untimely demise.
Ethan had an impressive athletic record during his time at West Broward High School, and he even earned a cross-country scholarship to Jacksonville University. He had recently transferred to Nova Southeastern University (NSU), a change motivated by his girlfriend Andrea Lares’s pregnancy. Ethan was training rigorously in hopes of making the NSU cross-country team as a walk-on.
Lawrence’s family, while facing profound grief, united on Monday to share memories of the wonderful person they and the world had lost.
Lourdes Lawrence found comfort in reminiscing about the close relationship she shared with her son. “We had an unbreakable bond,” she recalled fondly. She emotionally conveyed that her son led a life without regrets and reveled in every moment, which was verified by Patrick Lawrence, Ethan’s father.
Ethan had won the inaugural Aden Perry 5K race, a contest to honor the memory of a young man who died saving someone from drowning. Ethan’s mother eventually became friends with Aden’s mom and now, they share the same inconsolable pain. She takes solace in the fact that her son died while indulging in the activity he loved the most – running.