Latest news with #WJXT
Metro
2 days ago
- Climate
- Metro
Multiple holidaymakers struck by lightning on Florida beach
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video A beachgoer was taken to hospital in a critical condition after 'multiple people' were struck by lightning. Firefighters said that three patients were treated and evacuated from the area after the strike at St Augustine Pier in northeastern Florida. Swimmers and surfers ran over the sand to their cars in a panic after the bright flash when a sudden storm rolled in on July 12, reports said. One witness, who gave his name only as Jamar, told WJXT he was on the beach with family for a retirement celebration. 'All of a sudden in the corner of my eye, I see a big flash, two seconds later I hear this boom and now my ears are ringing,' he said. 'I'm confused on what just happened. I'm over here scared, shocked, I don't even know.' Another witness, Tristin Whetstinem said: 'It really brings me to Earth too, perspective. 'We are just out here feeling nature when nature strikes. We're trying to take advantage of the life we live and then its BOOM.' St Johns County Fire and Rescue said in a Facebook post that they took two patients to hospital, one badly hurt and one with minor injuries. Another patient who had been hit refused to go to hospital and made their own way home. They warned people to 'avoid the pier while emergency operations are underway — and remember, when thunder roars, go indoors'. Video of the beach during the strike appears to show a flash or glitch before people on the sand close to the pier fall down, as others run and birds can be seen flying away. The pier was shut down for the rest of the day, with a black sack wrapped around an area damaged with splintered wood, but it was expected to reopen by Monday. Anyone struck by lightning should ideally be checked over in hospital, even if they feel okay, as the strike can throw off heart rhythm as well as cause burns. First Coast News reported that the person seriously injured was still alive by the time they reached hospital, but an update on their current condition was not available. St. Augustine Beach Mayor Dylan Rumrell urged any locals and visitors to take weather conditions seriously, telling News4Jax: 'The perfect world, you'd have all the signs and signals out there that you can, but at the end of the day, people still need to take caution when you see clouds rolling in summertime. 'This is when most of this happens…You just gotta be careful…You see the storms rolling in [and] you hear the thunder, seek shelter.' The US National Weather Service says there have been 20 fatalities from lightning strikes each year over the last ten years. More Trending So far in 2025, there have been six deaths which happened in North Carolina, Texas, Mississippi, Florida and Oklahoma. Florida is the US state with the most lightning strikes by area, sometimes referred to as the 'lightning capital' of the US. To reduce the risk from lightning in a storm, you should move away from high ground as soon as possible incuding hills and mountains, as well as from bodies of water and anything which conducts electricity. The National Weather Service said people should never lie down, hide under an isolated tree, or use a rocky overhang for shelter. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Map reveals where and when it is going to rain after heatwave ends MORE: Graphs show how the UK's climate has shifted in just 50 years MORE: Is the UK heatwave now over after temperatures reached 33°C?
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Florida beachgoers struck by lightning
By Three people were injured after being struck by lightning on a packed Florida beach. The terrifying incident occurred at the St. Augustine Pier, a popular spot for vacationers and locals alike, on Saturday night. A sudden storm rolled in and bolts of lightning lit up the sky on beachgoers. Two of the victims were rushed to the hospital with one reportedly in critical condition, according to WJXT. The other suffered minor injuries and a third person declined medical treatment despite being hit. St. John's County Fire Rescue closed the pier and began inspecting it for damage while treating the injured. Officials said they expect it to reopen Monday. St. Augustine Beach Mayor Dylan Rumrell urged residents and visitors to take incoming storms seriously. 'There's a big storm and lightning can hit at any time,' he told News4Jax. If you hear thunder, seek shelter immediately, he emphasized. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the lightning struck. 'All of a sudden in the corner of my eye, I see a big flash, two seconds later I hear this boom and now my ears are ringing,' a witness Jamar told the outlet. 'I'm confused on what just happened. I'm over here scared, shocked, I don't even know.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Climate
- Daily Mail
Multiple vacationers struck by lightening on popular Florida beach
Three people were injured after being struck by lightning on a packed Florida beach. The terrifying incident occurred at the St. Augustine Pier, a popular spot for vacationers and locals alike, on Saturday night. A sudden storm rolled in and bolts of lightning lit up the sky on beachgoers. Two of the victims were rushed to the hospital with one reportedly in critical condition, according to WJXT. The other suffered minor injuries and a third person declined medical treatment despite being hit. St. John's County Fire Rescue closed the pier and began inspecting it for damage while treating the injured. Officials said they expect it to reopen Monday. 'Please avoid the pier while emergency operations are underway — and remember, when thunder roars, go indoors,' the department warned in a Facebook post. 'Stay safe and weather aware.' Two of the victims were rushed to the hospital with one reportedly in critical condition. The other suffered minor injuries and a third person declined medical treatment despite being hit St. Augustine Beach Mayor Dylan Rumrell urged residents and visitors to take incoming storms seriously. 'There's a big storm and lightning can hit at any time,' he told News4Jax. If you hear thunder, seek shelter immediately, he emphasized. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the lightning struck. 'All of a sudden in the corner of my eye, I see a big flash, two seconds later I hear this boom and now my ears are ringing,' a witness Jamar told the outlet. 'I'm confused on what just happened. I'm over here scared, shocked, I don't even know.' The strike follows a string of lightning-related incidents this year. According to the National Weather Service, six people in the U.S. have died from lightning strikes in 2025 alone. Fatalities reported in North Carolina, Texas, Mississippi, Florida, and Oklahoma. On average, about 20 people die each year from lightning across the country.
New York Post
3 days ago
- Climate
- New York Post
Three people struck by lightning at popular Fla. beach getaway
Advertisement Three people were injured after being struck by lightning in a popular summer beach getaway town on Saturday night. Two of the victims of the strike on St. Augustine Pier in Florida were transported to the hospital, one in critical condition and one with minor injuries, according to WJXT. A third person refused to be taken to the hospital. The pier was closed down while fire crews attended to the injured, and it was inspected for damage. It is expected to reopen on Monday. Advertisement 'Please avoid the pier while emergency operations are underway — and remember, when thunder roars, go indoors,' St. John's County Fire Rescue said in a Facebook post. 'Stay safe and weather aware.' St. Augustine Beach Mayor Dylan Rumrell echoed that sentiment, warning residents to seek shelter if they hear thunder. 'There's a big storm and lightning can hit at any time,' he reportedly said. 3 Three people on the beach were injured after being struck by lightning. Solid photos – Advertisement According to the report, the lightning strike left beachgoers, swimmers and surfers in a panic, and many ran for their cars in the immediate aftermath. 'I got scared, everybody was scared,' said one witness. According to the National Weather Service, there have been six lightning strike fatalities in the United Sates in 2025, all in different states. North Carolina, Texas, Mississippi, Florida and Oklahoma have all seen fatal strikes. 3 According to WJXT, two of the victims of the strike on St. Augustine Pier in Florida were transported to the hospital, one in critical condition and one with minor injuries. Design Pics Editorial/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Advertisement 3 The pier was closed while fire crews attended to the injured. Universal Images Group via Getty Images The 10-year average annual fatality rate from lightning strikes is 20 people per year. To reduce the risk of being struck by lightning, the National Weather Service instructs people to immediately move away from high ground, including hills, mountain ridges or peaks. The organization says never to lie down to avoid lightning, never to hide under an isolated tree, never use a cliff or rocky overhang for shelter and to immediately move away from bodies of water and anything that conducts electricity.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Father Was Holding 1-Year-Old Son When They Were Fatally Hit by a Car While Crossing the Street
A father and his 1-year-old son died after they were hit by a car while crossing the street in Jacksonville, Fla. on May 16 Mitchell Patch was an elementary school math teacher, whose students "will miss him tremendously," the principal said Patch's wife and family are "heartbroken," the wife's employer wrote on a GoFundMe pageA mom is grieving after her husband and 1-year-old son were killed while crossing the street in Jacksonville, Fla. Mitchell Patch, an elementary school math teacher, was walking across Baymeadows Road with his son, Everett, when they were hit by a Honda Civic traveling eastbound at 8:30 p.m. local time on Friday, May 16. Emergency responders pronounced the father and child dead at the scene, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said in a statement. The driver of the car was taken to a local hospital and is cooperating with officials. Officer Max Morel confirmed the names of the father and son and told PEOPLE the investigation is ongoing. 'Our hearts are with the family and friends of the man and his child,' the sheriff's office said in the statement. Duval County Public Schools, Patch's employer, and the City of Jacksonville Medical Examiner's Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comment. That evening, Patch attended a party at a restaurant. He was holding his toddler in his arms when he crossed the road, Morel confirmed. 'We were in the middle of a rush when it happened. Next thing you know, we just started seeing flashing lights. It started getting bigger. So we kind of figured something more intense happened,' Dylan Williams, manager at Wicked Barley Brewing Company, told local outlet WJXT. 'We had a large group of family members mourning,' he added. 'It was very tragic.' The fatal accident has renewed safety concerns for residents in the area, the outlet reported. For Patch's wife, Mary, it's an 'unimaginable' tragedy, her employer wrote in a GoFundMe created to cover funeral expenses. As of Wednesday, May 23, the page has raised more than $120,000, close to its $125,000 goal. The organizer did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. 'This devastating loss has left her and her family heartbroken,' the employer wrote of the death of Mitchell and their son, who is identified as Everett. Bayview Elementary, where Mitchell worked, sent a message to the school's families from Principal Kelly York the day after the accident. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 'We will all certainly remember Mr. Patch for his incredible commitment to students and to the teaching profession. He was a dedicated educator and a well-loved and respected member of our Brave family,' York wrote in the message, which was shared with WJXT. 'Our sympathies go out to Mr. Patch's family, friends and our entire school community during this difficult time.' She added, 'I am deeply saddened, and I know the students, staff and family members who knew Mr. Patch will miss him tremendously." Read the original article on People
