Two Charlotte teens were hospitalized Tuesday after being struck by lightning in Clearwater Beach, Fla., according to multiple news outlets.
Advertisement
The older victim, Jansen Tabor, 18, told police that they made a dash for shelter when the storm began, but the next thing he knew, he woke up on the sand. Both of the victims are at Tampa General Hospital.
Cassandra Thomas, a pediatric nurse who saw the pair in distress from her 16th floor room in Lighthouse Towers, ran to the scene and administered CPR, TampaBay.com reported.
Cassandra Thomas, a pediatric nurse from Pennsylvania, and Kirk Pattison, a police officer from IL, along with Pattison’s wife Jenny, will receive the honor at 10:30 a.m. Friday during a ceremony at police department headquarters, 645 Pierce St. “We continued CPR there until they got all their equipment hooked up on him”.
Officials say the storms popped up quickly Tuesday evening.
“It just blew up on them”, he said.
The two teens were walking on the beach when a heavy thunderstorm moved in.
“As soon as you hear thunder, pack it up and head inside”, he said.
The National Weather Service said 14 people have been killed by lightning this year, four in Florida.
Advertisement
Thomas and Pattison told reporters they were hoping for the best for Poimboeuf. “I just wish I was there sooner”.
