Three individuals faced nature's unpredictable might when lightning struck their boat on the Mississippi River near Venice, during a tornado warning on Wednesday. The Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness confirmed the incident, which occurred approximately half a mile south of the Jump in Venice. WWLTV reports that the three were transported to Cypress Cove Marina where they met with Plaquemines Parish EMS, and subsequently, were taken to the hospital with minor to moderate injuries.
While the exact ages or details of the injuries have not been disclosed, what's clear is the suddenness of the strike and its consequences for these individuals caught between sky and river. The Plaquemines Parish Sheriff's Office, addressing the situation, described the victims' conditions as "mild to moderate." Information about the status of the boat, or the identities of those aboard, remains uncertain, as noted by WDSU.
The incident aligns with the severe weather alerts that had been issued earlier, with a tornado warning in place by the National Weather Service.
The director of the parish’s Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness office confirmed the timing of the lightning strike occurring around noon. According to FOX 8 Live, the extent of injuries inflicted by the lightning strike has not been established at this time.
