Lightning strikes family of 3, multiple others at St. Pete Beach’s Dolphin Beach Resort
Share this @internewscast.com

ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — The Independence Day celebrations at Dolphin Beach Resort took a terrifying turn when lightning hit several people enjoying the beach.

Responding to the emergency at 12:19 p.m., officials from the St. Pete Beach Fire Department confirmed that three family members—a teenage girl and two adults—had been struck by lightning.

According to authorities, the three were under an umbrella when the lightning strike occurred.

Of the three, two adults were treated on scene and refused medical treatment. The 17-year-old girl was sent to Tampa General Hospital.

“We knew it was going to rain, but we didn’t think it was going to get this bad,” said Andrew Faiella of St. Petersburg.

Faiella told News Channel 8 it’s common for him to head to the beach on the Fourth of July and this year he continued that tradition with friends.

While swimming in the water, he said he could hear thunder from afar.

“I started to swim into shore and then me [and] my friends are washing up, and then we hear boom, lightning strike right next to us,” Faiella said.

Those at the beach began running into the parking lot to find coverage inside their cars.

“I consider myself very fortunate, especially being the furthest out in the sea,” Faiella shared. “It easily could have been me or one of my buddies.”

Other beach goers were also struck by lightning, though uninjured, they tell News Channel 8, it was a feeling they have never felt before.

“I literally felt it rushed all the way down my body,” said LA Mejias of Woodbridge, Virginia. “I’ve never had a situation like that before.”

Meijas was continuing his yearly family tradition of heading to Dolphins Beach Resort for the Independence Day holiday.

“This is like our 30-year tradition [by] coming here… my whole family lives down here,” Mejias said. “Usually, we’re well organized when it comes to dealing with the rain because we’ve been doing it for so long.”

Mejias invited his best friend, Kirez Bost, of Woodbridge, Virginia, to this year’s family gathering and he too was struck as he felt the impact both in his hand and middle of his chest.

“I usually have fun, but today I was pretty anxious,” Bost said. ” And seeing everybody else panic too… we were trying to keep each other calm and make sure everybody else is OK in the process [while] making sure we got in the car safely.”

According to the National Weather Service, no place is considered safe outside when there are thunderstorms.

Once thunder is heard, it is close enough to strike, making it best to immediately move to shelter such as a substantial building with electricity and plumbing or a car that is metal-topped and closed.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Champaign Co. EMA Secures Major Grant for Cutting-Edge Technology Enhancements

URBANA, Ill. — The Champaign County Emergency Management Agency is set to…

Newly Unveiled Epstein Files: Ex-Trump Secretary’s Interview Revealed by House Committee

The House Oversight Committee unveiled new documents on Friday related to the…

Unveiling the Dark Secrets of the Murdaugh Family: Hulu’s New Series Explores Chilling Murders

The shocking events surrounding the deaths of the wife and son of…

US Raises Alarm on Hamas’s Potential Threat to Palestinian Civilians Amid Gaza Ceasefire

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – On Saturday, the U.S. State Department reported…

Surveillance Video Potentially Reveals Final Driver of D4vd’s Tesla Prior to Body Discovery

A private investigator has provided crucial surveillance footage to the Los Angeles…

St. Pete Animal Shelter Seeks Urgent Help After Van Crash with 17 Pets Onboard

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) — A local animal shelter is urgently seeking…

No Kings’ Organizer Assures Peaceful Nature of Upcoming Anti-Trump Rallies

One of the key figures behind the upcoming “No Kings” rallies appeared…

Breakthrough DNA Evidence Leads to Arrest of Georgia Man for 1990s New York Sexual Assault Cases

NEW YORK (AP) — Authorities have tied a Georgia resident to a…

SSU Selected as One of 30 Schools for Innovative Freshman AI Program

SAVANNAH, Ga. — Savannah State University (SSU) has been chosen as one…

United Airlines Aircraft Involved in Collision on O’Hare Tarmac

CHICAGO (WGN) – An incident involving two United Airlines aircraft occurred on…

Friday Night Football Frenzy: Unmissable Highlights and Predictions for 10/17/25

CENTRAL ILLINOIS (WCIA) – Here’s a roundup of the week eight high…

Tragic Morning Collision in Decatur Claims One Life

A tragic accident in Decatur, Illinois, claimed the life of a young…