A Central Texas barbecue restaurant is speaking out after one of its longtime patrons died this week after being hit on the eatery’s patio by a lightning-struck tree during recent storms.
Green Mesquite, located at 1400 Barton Springs Road, Austin, TX 78704, confirmed the patron’s death in a social media post on Thursday, May 21. Owners identified the man as Kirk Foyle, a customer who’d been patronizing the restaurant for years and was a namesake among businesses in the Zilker neighborhood.
The local barbecue joint said Foyle had been sitting on Green Mesquite’s patio on Tuesday, May 19, when a tree that had been struck by lightning fell, leaving him with critical injuries. Austin-Travis County EMS told MySA via email that they responded to the location at 9:20 p.m. and later transported one adult patient with critical injuries to Dell Seton Medical Center.
“The entire staff here at the Green Mesquite offers our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and neighbors as we all work through this difficult time,” the business wrote on social media. MySA reached out to Green Mesquite for additional comment.
In a follow-up message posted early Friday, May 22, Green Mesquite’s staff eulogized Foyle, remembering him as “an amazing human” who was “loved by everyone at our restaurant.” Alongside being a storied customer at Green Mesquite, who was also an avid supporter of other neighborhood outposts, including Barton Springs Saloon and Finn’s.
“He told me countless times of how proud he was of me on what I did for the restaurant. I am heartbroken about what happened. Believe me we will do whatever we can for his family and plan on a celebration of life for him,” the restaurant wrote, adding: “Please respect us during this time of grieving. Thank you all and know the music and love will continue because Kirk would have wanted it that way.”