Seven members of a youth group in Utah were hospitalized after lightning struck the ground as they hiked on Thursday afternoon. The incident occurred in the eastern part of Sevier County while a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints youth group from Salina was hiking. The group was caught in a light rainstorm around 1:45 p.m. when lightning struck the ground next to them.
Approximately 50 youth group members felt the shock of the lightning, with seven of them experiencing medical concerns due to the electrocution. Emergency services were called, and the injured individuals were taken to hospitals for treatment. Two of the victims with serious symptoms were flown to a children's hospital in Lehi, while the other five were transported to hospitals in Gunnison and Richfield. Fortunately, none of the injuries are expected to be life-threatening.
The rest of the group was safely brought back to Salina and reunited with their parents. Authorities confirmed that there were no additional medical issues reported among the group members. The incident occurred during a week of severe weather in Utah, with flash flood and severe thunderstorm warnings being issued. The National Weather Service had warned of frequent cloud-to-ground lightning in the area where the youth group was hiking.
While lightning strikes are relatively rare, they can be dangerous. In the United States, about 20 people are killed by lightning strikes each year, with hundreds more sustaining injuries. However, almost 90% of lightning strike victims survive their injuries. A study by the National Weather Service revealed that a significant portion of lightning-related deaths occur during leisure activities such as hiking, fishing, camping, boating, soccer, and golf.
