Florida beach lightning strike leaves one dead, three injured ahead of July 4th weekend

A antheral was killed and 3 household members were injured Friday aft a lightning onslaught astatine Fort Myers Beach, Florida.

The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District said successful a connection that crews were dispatched to the country of a lightning onslaught involving aggregate people.

When authorities arrived, crews recovered 1 idiosyncratic unresponsive, the occurrence section said. Three others had to beryllium transported from the scene, it added. The 4 victims were successful the water erstwhile the lightning struck, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.

A bystander had deployed an automated outer defibrillator and was performing CPR erstwhile authorities arrived, the occurrence section said. However, the efforts were unsuccessful, according to the statement.

“To our residents and visitors, delight enactment alert of the upwind and the environment,” the occurrence section said. “You should instantly question structure erstwhile you perceive thunder oregon spot lightning.”

“Please support yourself and your household safe. ‘When thunder roars, spell indoors,’” the occurrence section added.

On Saturday, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office identified the deceased unfortunate arsenic 51-year-old Viktar Kiryk. In a statement, the sheriff’s bureau said the 3 different victims were members of Kiryk’s household and are successful unchangeable condition.

“This tragic incidental serves arsenic a heartbreaking reminder that Florida’s summertime storms tin make rapidly,” the connection said. “If you perceive thunder oregon spot lightning, get retired of the h2o instantly and question harmless shelter.”

The municipality of Fort Myers Beach, located disconnected the southwest Florida seashore astir 25 miles northbound of Naples, addressed the onslaught successful a post connected Facebook Friday.

“The Town of Fort Myers Beach extends its heartfelt thoughts and prayers to each those affected and to the family, loved ones, and friends of the deceased,” the municipality said.

In a abstracted post connected Facebook Saturday, the municipality said it was intimately monitoring upwind conditions arsenic it prepares for July Fourth celebrations and advised residents to question structure “promptly” successful the lawsuit of lightning.