Beachgoer killed by lightning strike whereas swimming in Florida

One particular person was killed and three others have been injured when a gaggle of Florida beachgoers was struck by lightning on Friday afternoon — with witnesses describing the terrifying second as sounding like “an atomic bomb went off.”

The summer time revelers have been zapped whereas swimming within the Gulf at Fort Myers Beach round 3 p.m., WINK News reported. 

One swimmer, an unidentified man, was struck straight and died. Three different swimmers, who have been wading within the ocean close to the strike, have been injured and rushed to a close-by hospital, in keeping with Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District Chief Scott Wirth.

The three different people injured “appear to be in stable condition,” Sarah Rodriguez of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office instructed The Post. 

“All of a sudden, it sounded like an atomic bomb went off,” beachgoer Debra Crombie instructed WINK News.

“I could see the flash, and I couldn’t see at that moment where it had hit, but I knew it had hit either on the beach or right at the shoreline,” she continued.

“It was so bright our ears hurt, our eyes were blinded by it, like that’s how intense this was.”

Crombie, who was on her annual trip to Fort Myers, Fla., along with her household when the tragedy struck, stated one in all her relations noticed the lightning strike the water earlier than it “split in two.”

“And so at that point, we saw kids running off the beach back to our resort and they were screaming and I’m like, oh boy, I bet somebody got hit,” she stated.

The man who was straight struck was pulled from the water and CPR measures have been tried, however he had died by the point emergency responders arrived on the scene, the outlet reported. 

Crombie believes the tragic beachgoer was staying at her resort together with his household.

“We saw his child earlier in the day, and everyone was crying on and off, and I just can’t stop thinking about this family, and my heart just breaks for them,” she stated.

“It was supposed to be this beautiful experience on beautiful Fort Myers Beach and now it’s not.”

While the sufferer has not been formally recognized but, LCSO stated that “the decedent and others involved were traveling to another city in Florida and stopped at the beach along the way.”

It is unknown at the moment if the person killed was a Florida resident or visiting the state, in keeping with LCSO.

The vacationer stated that whereas the stretch of Fort Myers Beach that was hit isn’t crowded, there have been “a considerable number of people” from out of city who might not have been conscious of the dangers of swimming throughout thunderstorms.

“It makes you think these people can’t be from Florida. They don’t understand how deadly the lightning is,” she stated.

“I’m not judging them but…we were looking at it like why are the kids on the beach?”

Thunderstorms are additionally predicted to hit components of the East Coast all through the Fourth of July weekend — as a “heat dome” has been engulfing a lot of the nation.

Officials are warning beachgoers in regards to the potential security dangers concerned.

“We urge all residents, visitors, and beachgoers to monitor the weather prior to going outside. If you observe lightning in the immediate area: stay out of the water, seek immediate shelter, and stay clear of loose or tall objects that could pose a risk or injury,” the Lee County Sheriff’s Office wrote on X.

Despite the inclement climate, the seashore remained open following the tragedy.

“The remainder of the beach, outside the established crime scene, remained open following the incident,” the Sheriff’s Office stated.