Monday 28 July 2014

California lightning strikes 14 people

Los Angeles - Lightning struck 14 people, injuring two
critically, during rare summer thunderstorms that swept
through Southern California, authorities said on Sunday.
Los Angeles fire spokesperson Katherine Main said 13 people
were treated after they were struck at Venice Beach in Los
Angeles. Four were treated at the scene and released, and the
rest were taken to hospitals.
Stuart Acher said he was struck while playing volleyball on the
beach.
"All of a sudden there was a big flash of light and a boom, and
it felt like someone punched me in the back of my head," he
told KABC-TV. "It went down my whole side of my right body,
and my calves sort of locked up, and I fell over. And I looked
up and everybody else was, you know, falling over."
Other fire officials said most of those taken to hospitals were
mainly shaken up and were expected to recover.
Steve Christensen said his friend tried to help when lifeguards
began searching for a missing swimmer.
"He went out to the water to find him and walked right into
him," Christensen said. "He was face down on the bottom."
Christensen said his friend pulled the man from the water, and
lifeguards began trying to resuscitate him before taking him
away on a truck.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said a 14th
person was struck on a golf course on Southern California's
Catalina Island. The 57-year-old man was reported in stable
condition.

No comments: