The Fourth of July is one of the busiest beach weekends, but scattered thunderstorms brought on by a historic and deadly heat wave have created a very dangerous situation for swimmers looking to cool off.
A family of four was struck by lightning while enjoying a beach day on Friday in Fort Myers, Florida. One was killed, and three were taken to a hospital where they are in stable condition, according to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
Viktar Kiryk, 51, was identified as the sole fatality. Authorities said Kiryk was pulled out of the water by bystanders and first responders at around 2.20pm.
The Fort Myers Beach Fire District shared just after 3pm that they were still at the scene after a lightning strike involving multiple patients.
A bystander deployed an AED (automated external defibrillator) and started to perform CPR.
When the fire department arrived, Kiryk’s family members were transported to a local hospital, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The department warned residents and visitors to ‘immediately seek shelter when you hear thunder or see lightning,’ issuing a reminder that ‘when thunder roars, go indoors.’
‘This tragic incident serves as a heartbreaking reminder that Florida’s summer storms can develop rapidly,’ the sheriff’s department added.