3 beachgoers injured by lightning strike on Fourth of July along Florida's Gulf Coast

ST. PETE BEACH, Fla. – An outing connected the Fourth of July turned tragic on Florida’s Gulf Coast, arsenic archetypal responders reported 3 radical sought aesculapian attraction aft a lightning onslaught Friday afternoon.

According to the St. Pete Beach Fire Department, the onslaught occurred conscionable earlier 12:30 p.m. successful the confederate information of Pinellas County.

Upon arrival, crews said they recovered 2 adults and 1 teen adjacent an umbrella.

Both adults were treated astatine the scene, but the teen required further attraction astatine a section aesculapian center.

Officials did not disclose the identities of the victims oregon accidental whether they were section to the area.

WHAT IS HOTTER: LIGHTNING OR FIREWORKS?

Showers and thunderstorms were successful the forecast, arsenic they are astir days crossed the Sunshine States, with capable moisture and instability for astir regular pop-up activity.

Florida is often referred to arsenic the "lightning superior of the United States," with millions of bolts detected successful the entity each year.

According to the State of Florida, the authorities typically sees betwixt 1-2 cardinal strikes annually, with each bolt carrying millions of volts of electricity.

State wellness officials estimation astir 10% of radical injured by lightning strikes dice arsenic a effect of these abrupt acts of Mother Nature.

According to NOAA, astir 20 radical are killed by lightning annually crossed the nation, with astir occurring successful lukewarm clime zones.

Outdoor events tin sometimes extremity successful tragedy, with sportfishing and formation activities topping the database of deadliest activities, according to the National Lightning Safety Council.

WHICH STATES HAVE THE MOST LIGHTNING INSURANCE CLAIMS?

209,484,916 in-cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning events were reported successful the United States successful 2024.

(Vaisala / FOX Weather)

According to the National Weather Service, a bolt tin question 10–12 miles extracurricular of a thunderstorm and transportation immoderate 300 cardinal volts of electricity.

Despite the awesome magnitude of activity, fatalities from lightning strikes person been steadily declining crossed the U.S.

In 2024, 14 radical were killed by lightning, with astir each engaged successful outdoor activities erstwhile the thunder roared.

So acold successful 2025, the NLSC reports six fatalities, with each occurring either successful the Plains oregon Southeast.

Beachgoers are ever urged to stay vigilant arsenic thunderstorms tin make with small warning.