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The National Weather Service is urging all residents across the United States to review lightning safety rules and to watch for signs of quick and sudden developing thunderstorms that will likely contain dangerous and potentially deadly lightning strikes as news of a 9th lightning fatality along with several reports of people injured by lightning strikes over the weekend.
A 70-year-old man (Robert Jesse Gurney) was struck and killed by lightning during a camping trip at Upper Sunshine Reservoir in northwest Wyoming. Park County Sheriff Scott Steward says Robert Jesse Gurney was standing on a hill to get reception on his cell phone when he was struck by lightning Sunday afternoon MDT. Gurney and his son had been fishing on the reservoir, but had returned to their campsite when thunderstorms moved into the area. Bystanders performed CPR on Gurney but were unable to resuscitate him. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital.
This latest death raises the fatality count from lightning strikes up to 9. This is the 7th death from lightning since Memorial Day Weekend and the 4th in just seven days!!
Several people were also injured by lightning over the weekend.
A 19-year-old man (Matt Leathers) is listed in fair condition at a Rhode Island Hospital after he was struck by lightning Sunday afternoon EDT, while sitting on the steps of a treehouse at a North Providence, Rhode Island home. He suffered burns over much of his body.
A family of three was taken to the hospital Sunday afternoon EDT after their boat was struck by lightning at the Thomas Creek Preserve in Jacksonville, Florida. The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department said they took the mother and father to Shands Jacksonville Hospital as a precaution; their son also was taken to Shands with life threatening injuries.
A 14 year old boy (Nick Farmer) was injured after he was struck by lightning Saturday afternoon in Acworth, Georgia. Farmer and some friends were swimming in Lake Acworth, when a sudden thunderstorm moved into the area. Family members say the 14-year-old was struck by lightning and knocked out while walking away from a tree and had to be revived 3 times after he stopped breathing and had no pulse.
This week has been designated as National Lightning Safety Awareness Week in an effort to increase awareness on the dangers lightning poses this time of year, especially as we head into the month of July, which historically has been the deadliest month for lightning strikes across the country.
The summer months of June, July and August combined account for more than 80 percent of the lightning deaths and injuries per year. This is when thunderstorm activity is at its peak and tends to be more random in nature, popping up with little or no notice. This combined with the fact that more people spend time outdoors (sporting events, swimming, fishing, mowing grass, etc), contributes to the relatively high lightning death toll and related injuries during the summer.
At least 1 lightning death has occurred in 8 states including Wyoming, Connecticut, Indiana, Ohio, Louisiana, Missouri, Colorado and North Carolina. North Carolina leads the nation with 2 lightning fatalities, both of which occurred this month.
You must remember, if you can hear thunder, you are close enough to be struck by lightning and you must seek shelter immediately!
Sources: WPRI, First Coast News, CBS4 Denver , NOAA
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