Categories: Cocoa

Port St. John Woman Struck By Lightning

PORT ST. JOHN, Florida – Brevard County Fire Rescue spokesperson Lt. Jeffrey Taylor said that a 43-year-old woman was transported to a local hospital after being struck by lightning in Port St. John, Florida this afternoon.

Brevard County Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to the 6300 block of Arborwood Avenue at 3:07 p.m. as a severe weather system began moving through the area.

The patient told rescuers that she was inside a barn when the lightning strike occurred. The patient was treated at the scene and transported by ground to Wuesthoff Medical Center in Rockledge, Florida. Her injuries were not considered immediately life-threatening.

The National Weather Service reports that to date, 21 people have been killed by lightning strikes in the United States. Hundreds more are permanently injured.

When severe weather approaches, BCFR advises to stop all activities, seek shelter in a substantial building or hard topped vehicle, and wait 30 minutes after the storm before resuming activities.

Lightning often strikes more than three miles from the center of the thunderstorm, far outside the rain or thunderstorm cloud. “Bolts from the blue” can strike 10-15 miles from the thunderstorm.

Man Struck By Lightning In Cocoa Beach

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Anonymous says:

08/16/2012 at 11:12 pm

I've seen lightning strikes in Florida that were ten miles long and away from the storm. Al Schrader
Anonymous says:

08/16/2012 at 11:12 pm

I've seen lightning strikes in Florida that were ten miles long and away from the storm. Al Schrader