A 20-year-old swimmer was killed and at least seven others were injured after being struck by lighting Sunday at Venice Beach in Los Angeles in a scene a witness described as “like a scene out of ‘Jaws’.”
Here’s what you need to know:
1. A 20-Year-Old Man Was Pronounced Dead After Being Struck
*UPDATE: 3500 OCEAN FRONT WALK * 8 patients transported, 7 adults, one
15 y/o. 1 adult grave, 1 adult critical… http://t.co/kUCHk4od8T
— LAFD (@LAFD) July 27, 2014
The Los Angeles Fire Department tweeted after the strike that eight people were transported to the hospital, including a man in critical condition. NBC Los Angeles and other media outlets reported that the man in critical condition, whose name has not been released, later died.
2. A Witness Said it Was ‘Like a Scene out of Jaws’
#Venice Beach lightning strike: One person killed and at least 8 others taken to hospital http://t.co/TLcDPYHmh2 pic.twitter.com/LnUVbQEXXh
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) July 28, 2014
Joe Doro, who was at the beach at the time of the strike, described the horrific, chaotic scene to NBC Los Angeles:
It was the loudest thunder I’ve ever heard. It was like a scene out of ‘Jaws,’ all the mothers were going in to grab their kids to drag them out of the water.
3. The National Weather Service Said At Least 4 Strikes hit the Beach
Lightning map from between 11AM-3PM today. Yellow circles show where injuries and fatality occurred. #LAweather pic.twitter.com/Xpg2saZUNG
— NWS Los Angeles (@NWSLosAngeles) July 28, 2014
The National Weather Service’s Stuart Seto told the Los Angeles Times that at least four strikes hit the beach and the water at about 2:20 p.m. local time Sunday.
4. The Entire Storm ‘Lasted About 15 Minutes’
According to the Times:
Angelica Roquemore said the entire storm lasted about 15 minutes. The sky over the pier turned dark and lightning crashed down a short time later, startling the crowd of fisherman and beach-goers on the pier.
5. Los Angeles Firefighters in Helicopters Searched for Victims
The strike promoted a massive response from firefighters and paramedics, with the L.A. fire department sending helicopters to search for swimmers who had been struck.
