Seven members of a youth group from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Salina, Utah, were hospitalized after lightning struck the ground near them while they were hiking in Sevier County. The incident occurred during a light rainstorm when lightning hit the ground where water had pooled, affecting approximately 50 youth group members. Seven individuals showed symptoms of electrocution and were triaged on-site before being transported to hospitals.
Two of the hospitalized youths were in serious condition and airlifted to a children’s hospital in Lehi, while the remaining five were taken to hospitals in Gunnison and Richfield. Fortunately, none of the injuries are expected to be life-threatening, according to the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office. The rest of the group was safely returned to Salina and reunited with their parents without further medical issues reported.
The incident underscores the dangers of lightning strikes during severe weather conditions in Utah, which has recently experienced intense weather patterns including flash floods and severe thunderstorms. The National Weather Service had issued warnings for high winds, hail, and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning in the area around the time of the incident, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of lightning strikes and the importance of caution during outdoor activities in stormy weather.
