Lightning Strikes Sailboat, Injures 7
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DULUTH-Seven people were sent to the hospital after lighting struck a sailboat on Lake Superior early Saturday evening, responders said.
Duluth Fire Department officials say four people were critically injured including a 9–year–old boy who needed CPR to restart his heart.
The call came in around 5:30 p.m, acting assistant Chief Jarry Keppers said.
Under the still threatening weather the St. Louis County Rescue Squad and other responding agencies scrambled to get patients to emergency vehicles.
The group consisted of a family made up of a mother and father, two boys - aged nine and five, and a grandmother and grandfather. The group also included a few family friends, according to a release from the fire department.
The nine-year-old was found face down in the water by the five-year-old who turned him over, fire officials report.
After CPR the boy was transported to Essentia Health St. Mary's Medical Clinic in Duluth by a LifeLink helicopter. The other members of the group were transported by USCG and St Louis County Rescue boats to waiting Gold Cross Ambulances, fire officials report.
"We always want to use the upmost water safety, especially when there's lightning. Sometimes it's difficult when it comes up quickly like this did but we ask people to keep an eye on the weather forecast," Kepper said.
The Coast Guard and Duluth Police also helped in the response.
