An eight-year-old girl lost her life after being struck by lightning while trying to take shelter from a storm that began suddenly in a rural area of ​​Serena, Illinois.

The victim was identified as Kinslee Tschida, who was playing in the yard of her home with her cousins ​​on Friday afternoon when the weather began to change.

According to what her grandfather, Chris Scheib, told WGN, the minor was outdoors with her mother, Meghan Scheib, her uncle, her aunt and several of her cousins ​​when they heard thunder and decided to enter the house.

The shelter was a few meters away

According to the family, Kinslee's uncle, who is familiar with lightning detection systems, recognized the danger as soon as he heard the first thunder and asked everyone to come inside the house.

The girl had just gotten off a swing and was about 20 feet (six meters) from the shelter when she was struck by lightning.

"He just heard thunder and yelled at them, 'Get off the swing.' Kinslee was just getting off and, in an instant, it happened. There was no warning and we didn't see lightning. It came through the tree," his grandfather said.

Scheib also said that the minor's mother witnessed the moment of impact.

The family tried to save his life

The grandfather explained that another of his granddaughters was less than four feet (just over a meter) from Kinslee when the accident occurred, although no other people were injured.

The family members began cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) maneuvers while waiting for the arrival of emergency services.

"My son and daughter tried to perform CPR on their own daughter. She is a nurse and it was very hard because she couldn't save her," Scheib said.

The minor was taken to OSF St. Elizabeth Hospital in Ottawa, where she was later pronounced dead.

The LaSalle County Coroner's Office determined the cause of death was injuries sustained from the lightning strike.

They remember her as a happy and loving girl.

Family and friends described Kinslee as a girl full of energy, who enjoyed singing, dancing and making those around her laugh.

His grandfather assured that now the family finds comfort by watching videos where he appears singing and dancing.

"She changed people. She was just a good soul," he said.

A GoFundMe campaign described her as “a shining light in every way,” with an unforgettable laugh and a heart much bigger than her young age.

According to her obituary, Kinslee was about to begin third grade at Rutland Grade School, where she was known as the “Queen Bee.” She enjoyed playing with her cousins, video chatting with her best friends, playing Roblox, riding the tractor with her grandfather, sharing games of Uno with her grandparents, and spending time with her pets, especially her cat Marsie.

The girl will be buried this Tuesday and is survived by her parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, uncles and eight cousins.