Family Struck by Lightning on St. Pete Beach: Teen Hospitalized Following Incident
Family Struck by Lightning on St. Pete Beach: Teen Hospitalized as Trauma Alert
ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. — A family outing turned into a nightmare on Friday when a family of three was struck by lightning while enjoying a day at the beach. The incident occurred near the Dolphin Beach Resort, close to the 4700 block of Gulf Boulevard, around noon.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene after receiving a call about an electrocution. In a chilling Broadcastify recording, a dispatcher alerted, "Rescue 23, St. Pete Beach 501, electrocution…"
Deputy Fire Chief Adam Poirrier reported that crews arrived within three minutes to find the family under an umbrella, having been struck by a lightning bolt. The weather conditions were alarming, with nearly 50 lightning strikes recorded between 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
"The lightning was going crazy," said beachgoer Isaac Martin, who witnessed the chaos unfold. As the storm intensified, a dispatcher warned responders to seek shelter in their vehicles if they were not directly involved in patient care.
While two adults received treatment on-site and declined further medical assistance, a 17-year-old girl was transported to Tampa General Hospital as a trauma alert.
Kyree Mejias, who has celebrated the 4th of July on St. Pete Beach for three decades, described the moment they felt the jolt of a nearby strike. "People were starting to feel a different shock inside their bodies," he recounted, noting that his uncle experienced a shock from his face down to his arm.
Meanwhile, Martin and his girlfriend sought refuge at a nearby beach bar for over an hour. Upon returning to the beach, they learned of the lightning strike, which felt alarmingly close. "I’ve never seen or heard of anybody getting struck by lightning personally, but that was right down the road," Martin said, reflecting on the proximity of the incident.
As the community processes this shocking event, officials remind beachgoers to stay vigilant during storms and seek shelter when lightning is present.