A harrowing brush with nature left a teacher on a challenging path to recovery after a lightning strike during a mountain biking adventure. James Fernandez, 41, found himself at the mercy of the elements while on what was meant to be a ‘trip of a lifetime’ with his family in Peru over Thanksgiving. Tragically, the same strike claimed the life of his friend, 36-year-old Yuri Botehlo.

The lightning bolt hit the pair as they biked, instantly killing Botehlo and rendering Fernandez unconscious. Against the odds, Fernandez survived but sustained severe injuries, including multiple neck fractures and a critical spinal cord injury. These injuries have left him with no movement in his arms or legs and a loss of sensation below his chest.

Currently, Fernandez is on the mend in Atlanta, showing signs of progress. He can now breathe independently, eat normally, and has shown improving muscle response in his arms and shoulders. This journey is documented and shared by his friend Bryan Lieberman, who provides updates on Fernandez’s condition.

Lieberman recently shared that Fernandez is adapting to life in a wheelchair, trying out different gear and motion controls to find the most comfortable and intuitive fit. Support for Fernandez’s recovery journey continues to grow, with updates provided on a GoFundMe page set up in his name.

The dad-of-two is now breathing on his own, eating normally and showing improving muscular response in his arms and shoulders while recovering in Atlanta, according to his friend Bryan Lieberman.

‘James will now be in a wheelchair and spent the last day or so trying out some new gear and motion controls to see which version is the most comfortable and intuitive,’ a GoFundMe update from Lieberman read.

‘Now that he’s breathing on his own like an absolute champ, regaining mobility in his arms and torso is the next focus and frontier in his journey.

‘He’s got a long way to go but his progress is already shattering the statistics.’  

James Fernandez was knocked unconscious but miraculously survived after being hit by lightning

Fernandez and his friend, 36-year-old Yuri Botehlo, were struck while downhill mountain biking in Cusco, Peru over the Thanksgiving holiday

The powerful blast tragically killed Botehlo instantly

Fernandez, his wife and their five-month-old baby joined close friends Botehlo, his wife and their 15-month-old son in Peru for what loved ones said was ‘meant to be the trip of a lifetime’

During the Thanksgiving break, Fernandez, his wife and their five-month-old baby joined close friends Botehlo, his wife and their 15-month-old son in Peru for what loved ones said was ‘meant to be the trip of a lifetime.’

On November 26, Fernandez, a former biking tour guide in Spanish-speaking countries, and Botehlo – who was described as equally adventurous – hired a guide for a downhill mountain biking tour in Cusco.

That afternoon, the group reached a summit nearly 14,000 feet above sea level in southern Peru’s Occoruro–Yaurisque region, on what Bryan Lieberman, a friend of Fernandez, called ‘a beautiful day.’ 

‘They were doing everything right,’ Lieberman told NBC Miami. ‘Out of the absolute clear blue, Yuri got struck by lightning,’ he added.

A sudden electrical storm erupted, sending brutal lightning strikes that killed Botehlo, leaving him among the straw, according to the Associated Press.

‘Kelsey was tracking his watch and saw it wasn’t moving,’ Brett Skoog, Botelho’s brother-in-law, told CBS News. 

The guide, fortunately uninjured, was able to get help in time to save Fernandez from the same fate. 

‘He was thrown from his bike about 15 feet because of the impact of the lightning,’ Fernandez’s wife, Alexis Fernandez, told WFTS News.

A sudden electrical storm erupted, sending brutal lightning strikes that killed Botehlo, leaving him among the straw

Authorities quickly responded to the emergency alert and found Fernandez injured on the roadside

Botehlo was cremated in Peru’s capital city of Lima and his remains were sent to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he and his family had been living

Fernandez underwent two emergency surgeries

‘We also do think the lightning traveled from the ground of hitting Yuri up through James’ leg because they were biking pretty close together,’ she added.

Authorities quickly responded to the emergency alert and found Fernandez injured on the roadside. He was immediately transported to a regional hospital for treatment.

The father underwent two emergency surgeries, as loved ones quickly raised over $70,000 within 24 hours to fund his medical evacuation from Peru to the United States.

Botehlo was cremated in Peru’s capital city of Lima and his remains were sent to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he and his family had been living since he became an American citizen in May, after moving from Brazil. 

‘James was just a guy doing really amazing stuff and building a family and enjoying life like all of us want to do,’ Lieberman told Fox 13.

‘Something tragic happened to his friend,’ he added. ‘Something tragic happened to him. And we’re just trying to get him and his family the help that they need.’

By December 4, Fernandez and his family had landed in Florida and were flown by air ambulance to Tampa General Hospital where he was placed back in the neuro ICU

On December 21, Fernandez was moved to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia – a leading spinal rehabilitation facility specializing in his type of injury

Fernandez’s students and members of the First Lutheran Church in Baton Rouge brightened his Christmas by sending dozens of letters and cards

Botehlo, from Brazil, had just become an American citizen in May

By December 4, Fernandez and his family had landed in Florida and were flown by air ambulance to Tampa General Hospital where he was placed back in the neuro ICU. 

In the weeks that followed, he began talking, could breathe on his own for up to four hours and was cleared for liquids and soft foods. 

On December 21, Fernandez was moved to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, Georgia – a leading spinal rehabilitation facility specializing in his type of injury. 

Fernandez’s students and members of the First Lutheran Church in Baton Rouge brightened his Christmas by sending dozens of letters and cards, filling his hospital room with color and holiday cheer. 

Lieberman later shared an update on Fernandez’s GoFundMe, saying his doctors described his progress as ‘rare and amazing.’ 

‘He no longer relies on a special voice cap on his trach device for his speech and is now speaking regularly but it’s very effortful given that he’s had to retrain his lungs,’ Lieberman wrote.

‘He has graduated to a regular diet,’ he added. ‘Also, no more neck brace now that his surgery has healed some!’ 

‘When he ultimately returns home, they’ll need to make modifications to his home, and vehicle to support his needs and his new battery powered ride.’