A lightning strike hit a tree near Jennie Lake, central California, on September 3, injuring three people, according to the California Highway Patrol.
This video shows the scene and people nearby saying “they fell into the water,” “we have to go help them.”
The CHP’s Central Division Air Operations said a father fishing by the lake was struck and the electric current also shocked the man’s 12- and 9-year-old children nearby. Christopher Lovera said in a Facebook post that he and his children channeled “various amounts of the bolt that hit the tree at our back” before it “made explosive contact with the ground.” Lovera, who was paralyzed for a few hours, said his clothes were burned and fused to his body, while his children suffered severe burns and punctured eardrums. People on the scene performed first aid on the victims, who were later hoisted to safety by rescuers.
In a comment on a September 11 Facebook post updating friends on his recovery, Lovera said he was “doing so much better” and that he and his kids were all healing quickly.
The Barton family were also at Jennie Lake on Labor Day weekend backpacking with friends. The group decided to go a hike when the rainstorm rolled in and turned into a hail storm with lightning. The storm kept getting closer and closer, said Akiko Barton, and she decided to take our her GoPro and capture the scene. A few moments later lighting can be seen striking a tree. Nick Barton witnessed the strike hit the family and he can be heard saying, “they fell into the water,” “we have to go help them.” Credit: Akiko And Nick Barton via Storyful
