20 people were injured when lightning struck a South Carolina beach Tuesday evening, officials said.
Lexington County spokesperson Vanessa Diaz said 12 children and six adults were taken to a local hospital, and two left on their own after a strike on a beach near Lake Murray.
The patient’s age was not immediately clear, nor was it the level of his injury, Diaz said. Injuries are thought to be life-threatening.
Thunder hit what would otherwise have been a “super hot and sunny” day, but storm clouds passed the area, Diaz said.
“There was no rain or anything like that. It was just a random storm cloud,” she said.
The Lexington County Fire Department, Ilmo Fire District, Lexington County Emergency Medical Services and the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department all responded, Diaz said.
The strike reported around 5pm occurred at Doreharscholes Dam, Diaz said. The dam is located on Lake Murray Public Park, owned by Dominion Energy. Dominion Energy did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday night.
Lake Murray Public Park is approximately four miles northeast of Lexington.
The park closed Tuesday night but is scheduled to reopen Wednesday, Diaz said.
