An Atlanta woman died Friday in Florida after she was struck by what was described as a “random” lightning bolt, according to a media report.
Janika Gardner, 33, was standing in ankle-deep water in Daytona Beach Shores in the evening when she was struck, WFTV.com of Orlando reported. She died at a hospital just before midnight.
Russell Scott, who was visiting the area with Gardner, was also struck by the lightning bolt, WFTV reported. He was taken to a hospital and described as doing well, according to the report. A third person was hit, but she was able to walk away and seek treatment on her own.
When paramedics arrived, Scott was conscious but Gardner wasn’t, according to the report.
A woman who witnessed the incident captured cellphone footage of paramedics rushing to the beach behind a hotel.
“Even the lifeguard would never have had any warning,” Julie Lucas said. “It was a random lightning bolt.
“It just was a big lightning bolt. … It went ‘kaboom.’ I said to him, ‘I bet someone just got hit.’”
A large grey cloud was seen over the beach about 5 p.m., but there was no rain or wind according to the report.
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