Florida Teen Hospitalized After St. Pete Beach Lightning Strike; Safety Warnings Renewed

A 17-year-old girl remains hospitalized after being struck by lightning along with two adult family members on St. Pete Beach, Florida, on Friday. The family was reportedly sheltering under an umbrella during a thunderstorm when the incident occurred.

Emergency services, including St. Pete Beach Fire Rescue and Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office, responded swiftly to the scene at 12:19 p.m. The two adult victims received treatment on-site but declined further medical attention. The teenager, however, was transported to Tampa General Hospital; her current condition has not been immediately updated.

Eyewitness Jennifer Tillman, observing from her apartment overlooking the beach, described hearing the storm intensify before the strike. She recounted seeing a Good Samaritan assist the girl, while the other two family members appeared to be in shock. Images from the scene show the family’s umbrella singed and snapped, with other belongings damaged and even dead gulls visible nearby.

The incident serves as a stark reminder of lightning dangers. Experts, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), strongly advise seeking indoor shelter during thunderstorms and caution against carrying metal objects like umbrellas, which can act as conductors. WTSP meteorologist Bobby Deskins emphasized, “If you are out on the beach or anywhere with an umbrella that is taller than you, you are literally creating a lightning rod.”

Despite the severity of the event, Tillman noted that the storm cleared quickly, with new beachgoers arriving hours later to celebrate the 4th of July, seemingly unaware of the recent trauma.

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