In a sudden burst of nature's volatility, four teenagers have become the unintended targets of a lightning strike in downtown St. Petersburg yesterday. According to News 13 Orlando, the group sought shelter under a Banyan tree near Third Street and Beach Drive when the lightning struck close by, leaving one of them in cardiac arrest.
Efforts by paramedics to urgently revive the girl were successful, as she was resuscitated en route to the hospital. A 17-year-old male and a 16-year-old male, along with two 16-year-old girls, were the victims of this unforeseeable incident. At least one of the teens suffered burns, with three of the victims being taken rapidly to Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, as detailed in a report by ABC Action News. All four are now reported to be in stable condition.
The response from St. Petersburg Fire Rescue was prompt; they were dispatched to the scene at about 5:45 p.m. after receiving reports of multiple lightning strike victims. The teenagers had been underneath the large canopy of the banyan tree, a common place of refuge, yet not safe from the capriciousness of a lightning strike. FOX 13 News adds that the incident occurred at the corner of 3rd Street and Beach Drive, a detail confirmed by multiple reports.