Three people enjoying a warm, sunny weekend on a Florida beach were suddenly struck by lightning from an unexpected blue-sky storm.
A beach enthusiast and two golfers were enjoying the summer sun at New Smyrna Beach on Friday afternoon when a sudden, intense lightning strike from an unusual blue-sky storm left one individual in critical condition, according to WESH News.
Appearing deceptively under apparently clear skies, blue-sky lightning strikes can extend up to 20 miles from their originating thunderstorm, making them one of the most unpredictable and hazardous natural events.
‘It was the most crackling electrical hit you could imagine,’ George Kirk, a witness, told WSVN News. ‘I mean like, fierce.’
‘It was pretty terrifying,’ Patrick Eichstaedt, a second witness, told the outlet.
On early Friday afternoon, many eager beach visitors headed to New Smyrna Beach—a famed coastal city just south of Daytona Beach—to enjoy its 17-mile expanse of white sand, celebrated for surfing and various water activities.
But beyond the calm, peaceful setting, a storm was silently brewing in the distance.
‘It was a clear blue sky,’ Pepper Pyle, a second witness, told WSVN. ‘The storm was like, miles away from us.’
A beach-goer and two golfers were soaking up the summer sun in New Smyrna Beach in Florida on Friday when a sudden and powerful lightning strike from a freak blue sky storm left one person hospitalized in critical condition (pictured: scene after the bolt strike)
Deceptively emerging from seemingly clear skies, blue-sky lightning strikes can travel up to 20 miles from their parent thunderstorm – making them one of nature’s most unexpected and dangerous phenomena (pictured: New Smyrna Beach)
In a matter of seconds, however, the beach day descended into chaos when, just before 12:30pm, a 29-year-old Colorado man standing in ankle-deep water was struck without warning by a sharp bolt of lightning.
‘I saw lightning strike, like on the beach,’ Pyle recalled. ‘Then I heard “help”. They were screaming, “Help! Somebody’s been struck.”‘
Paramedics were urgently called as the 29-year-old man lay unconscious and in cardiac arrest, the powerful lightning blast intensified by the water’s conductivity.
Eichstaedt, who witnessed the incident from his surfboard, watched in shock as the scene unfolded.
‘The guy was, what I could tell, was in the water, and somebody tried to drag him out, and then they got help,’ Eichstaedt told WSVN.
‘He was pretty far away, but I knew it was bad, because they started chest compressions immediately,’ he added.
Thankfully, a nurse was nearby when the lightning struck and, according to Volusia County Beach Safety Deputy Chief A.J. Miller, was able to immediately begin CPR, as reported by WSVN.
‘Bystanders rushed to his aid, pulled him to the water’s edge,’ Miller explained. ‘There was someone on scene that initiated CPR while the lifeguard nearby, who was over 300 feet away, was notified.’
Just before 12:30pm on Friday, a 29-year-old Colorado man standing in ankle-deep water was struck without warning by a sharp bolt of lightning intensified by the water’s conductivity – resulting in paramedics finding him unconscious and in cardiac arrest at the scene (pictured: stock image of a lifeguard on New Smyrna Beach)
Shortly afterward, two golfers at Venetian Bay Golf Course (pictured) – known as one of Florida’s premier golf communities with breathtaking views of New Smyrna Beach – were indirectly struck
A chilling photo shared with News 6 Orlando captured the man on the ground, encircled by several individuals – including what appear to be first responders assisting at the scene.
Officials from the New Smyrna Beach Fire Department quickly transported the man to a local hospital, where medical staff were able to restore his pulse. His current condition remains unknown, according to Fox Weather.
Shortly afterward, two golfers at Venetian Bay Golf Course – known as one of Florida’s premier golf communities with breathtaking views of New Smyrna Beach – were indirectly struck, WESH reported.
Though both golfers fortunately avoided serious injury and did not require emergency transport, they were quickly evacuated from the course.
‘The National Weather Service states that strikes can happen up to 20 miles outside,’ Miller added, as reported by WSVN.
‘I mean, that’s very far outside the leading edge of a storm.’
Florida, known as the ‘Lightning Capital’ of the United States, owes this title to its unique geography – an abundance of moisture, atmospheric instability, and the interplay of sea breezes that fuel frequent thunderstorms.
Surprisingly, lightning kills more people in the Sunshine State than all other weather hazards combined, according to a Palm Beach County news release.
Florida, known as the ‘Lightning Capital’ of the United States, owes this title to its unique geography – an abundance of moisture, atmospheric instability, and the interplay of sea breezes that fuel frequent thunderstorms (pictured: New Smyrna Beach)
Just last week, a teenager suffered burns to his neck after being unexpectedly struck by lightning in New York City’s Central Park while seeking shelter beneath a tree during a sudden thunderstorm
With more than 90 thunderstorm days plaguing the state each year, Florida experiences an exceptionally high density of lightning strikes – ranging from 223 to 300 strikes per square mile annually, as reported by Fox Weather.
Just last week, a teenager suffered burns to his neck after being unexpectedly struck by lightning in New York City’s Central Park while seeking shelter beneath a tree during a sudden thunderstorm.
An abrupt shift in weather caught New Yorkers off guard as clear skies gave way to darkness, unleashing torrential rain, roaring thunder, and brilliant lightning bolts that lit up the city.
The 15-year-old boy, who was near 101st Street and Fifth Avenue, was standing under a tree when a bolt struck, the FDNY told CBS News after the incident.
According to police, the electric current was transferred from the tree to a metal chain the boy was wearing around his neck.
‘We found him sitting on the path right there,’ a police officer told The Daily News. ‘He was still conscious. He’s lucky to be alive.’
The boy, whose name has not been released, was transported to New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in stable condition.
