This is from the NBC affiliate in Miami. South Florida had its share of
thunderstorms this past weekend.
Fisherman struck by lightning
FORT LAUDERDALE, June 3 – A professional fisherman taking part in a fishing
tournament at Everglades Holiday Park in West Broward was struck by
lightning Sunday during a strong storm.
The man was taken to Hollywood Memorial Regional Hospital, where he was
treated for burns covering 25 percent of his body. He was reported in
critical condition.
Broward County Fire Rescue crews say lightning struck the man’s fishing
pole. The jolt traveled down the rod into his left arm and exited his body
by his feet. The man and his fishing companion called for help using a cell
phone. About an hour after getting struck by lightning, rescue crews were
able to reach the victim by boat.
Heavy lightning and rain prevented the air rescue chopper from going to the
scene.
A Denver man was killed and seven others were injured Saturday when a bolt
of lightning struck the group as they were sunbathing on Fort Lauderdale
beach.
Thirty-year-old Christopher Lee Anderson, a Colorado tourist, was killed
after the bolt struck him on the head. His girlfriend Lynn Allen, 30, was
temporarily paralyzed and blinded by the lightning strike.
”It started thundering. And, then it started to rain,” said Karen Calderon,
who saw the beachgoers get hit by lightning.
Calderon and her husband said they felt the jolt.
“Lightning hit the guy in the head. And, then he fell on top of his
girlfriend. He was just lying there. He wasn’t breathing and he was blue.
And she was just crying because he was on top of her. So, my husband moved
to help her,” Calderon said.
The National Weather Service recorded several lightning strikes near Fort
Lauderdale beach early Saturday. Fort Lauderdale Police told bathers to keep
a watchful eye on the sky.
“Be very careful this time of year. Whenever you see storms coming in, take
cover. Take proper cover and get out of the storm,” said Detective Mike
Reed.
Anderson is the 54th person to die from lightning strikes in Miami-Dade and
Broward counties since 1959, according to the National Weather Service in
Miami. About 40 people a year are struck by lightning in Florida.
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