Lightning strike kills, injures three at Fort Myers Beach

A man was killed and three other people were injured after a lightning strike at Fort Myers Beach, Florida, on Friday, July 3. Emergency officials confirmed the four victims were in the ocean when the strike occurred.

The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District said crews responded to the scene and found one individual unresponsive. A bystander had deployed an automated external defibrillator and was performing CPR when authorities arrived, but those efforts were unsuccessful. The three other individuals were transported from the scene to local hospitals. The Lee County Sheriff's Office identified the deceased victim as a male in his 50s.

Witnesses described a terrifying scene. One beachgoer said the strike sounded "like an atomic bomb went off," adding that the flash was so intense it hurt her ears and temporarily blinded her. She reported seeing children running from the beach screaming. The man who was directly struck was pulled from the water, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Authorities issued urgent safety reminders following the incident. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno urged all residents and visitors to monitor the weather before going outside and to...