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Florida man struck by lightning, seven others injured

A man’s heart stopped beating when he was struck by lightning on a Florida beach Sunday — and seven other people were also injured.

The lightning-strike victim, in his 40s, suffered cardiac arrest and was in critical condition after being hit directly by the bolt around 12:40 p.m. on Clearwater Beach, Fire Department Deputy Chief Marvin Pettingill told local outlets.

Four people, including that man, who wasn’t named publicly, were taken to Morton Plant Hospital.

One person was taken to Tampa General Hospital with burns and three others refused treatment, according to WFLA.

The injured were on the beach at the time of the strike, near beachfront joint Frenchy’s Rockaway Grill.

The lightning struck about ten minutes after lifeguards had left their stations due to the bad weather.

Clearwater Fire and Rescue officials warned: “When you hear the roar, go indoors.”





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Filed under florida , lightning , 7/21/19