At approximately 5:45 p.m. on Thursday, July 25, 2024, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue responded to reports of individuals struck by lightning under a Banyan tree at the corner of 3rd Avenue and Beach Drive in St. Petersburg.
Paramedics found two individuals under the tree and began life-saving measures. Two more individuals approached paramedics, reporting lightning struck them while under the tree.
A minor female and a male were transported to Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. The female, initially in cardiac arrest, had a pulse restored as paramedics arrived at the hospital and was upgraded to a trauma alert. The male is in stable condition.
Two other minors, a female and a male, were taken to John Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. The female is stable, and the male, who suffered burns, is also in stable condition despite being listed as a trauma alert.
The ages of the four people involved were updated as a
16-year-old female
16-year-old male
16-year-old female
17-year-old male
St. Petersburg Fire Rescue paramedics’ swift response was crucial in saving lives during the lightning strike. They quickly performed life-saving measures and successfully revived the young female patient before transporting her to the hospital.