Dozens of Army Ranger students and instructors were injured after they were hit by lightning during training. “Ranger students and instructors are tough”.
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A total of 40 Army Rangers were involved, but only 21 were taken to the hospital for medical evaluation. Of those, 18 students and 3 instructors were still in the hospital Thursday.
The class of Army Rangers is the first to include five women, none of whom were affected by the lightning.
More on this developing story on News 5 at 5PM and 6PM. The students were learning lightning protection protocols at the time of the incident.
Nine students and two instructors were still hospitalized by Thursday afternoon for observation but returned to duty hours later, according to the Army.
The 44 personnel were treated at a local hospital after they were struck at Eglin Air Force Base in north Florida on Wednesday. Officials did not immediately have information on the extent of their injuries, other than to say they are not life-threatening.
“The Ranger students and instructors reacted and got everyone proper medical care quickly”, said Col. David Fivecoat, Airborne and Ranger Training Brigade commander.
There are 125 Ranger students participating in the third and final phase, the swamp phase, which began on August. 2 at Eglin Air Force Base.
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Luckily, all instructors and soldiers have been released, and are expecting to complete training and earn the coveted Ranger tabs.
