Idaho Soldier lives life to the fullest--After Lightning Stuck

Struck by lightning, Idaho Soldier lives life to the fullest
Idaho National Guard
By Capt. Robert Taylor
Oct. 2, 2018

Karla said A.J. was non-responsive for approximately 20 minutes before he breathed again. The ongoing storm prevented LifeFlight from responding so A.J. was transported to the hospital by ambulance. Local media reported two teammates were also injured by the lightning strike.

Boise, ID - Idaho Army National Guard Capt. A.J. Edwards poses for a photo while tossing a football Sept. 27, 2018, on Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. Edwards was struck by lightning on Sept. 30, 1998, at a football practice in Inkom, Idaho. He was wearing the helmet and holding the football shown. His teammates signed the football.

BOISE, Idaho - The National Weather Service estimates the odds of being struck by lightning in the United States are one out of 14,600. Despite those odds, Idaho Army National Guard Capt. A.J. Edwards was struck by lightning playing football as a 12-year-old 20 years ago.

Doctors told his parents he might not live, and that if he did live, he might not walk again.

Edwards beat those odds. The lightning temporary ended his life and caused him to relearn how to walk. He ran track for his school the next spring, ran a marathon the following year and earned an ROTC scholarship to Brigham Young University – Idaho. He enlisted into the Idaho Army National Guard in 2010 and earned his commission in 2013.

Lightning strikes

Edwards was struck by lightning Sept. 30, 1998. The last thing he remembers that day is riding his bike to football practice in Inkom, Idaho. His mother, Karla Edwards, remembers A.J. didn't want to go to practice that day because it was hot. She made him go anyway.
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Army veteran killed by lightning in Florida

This Army Veteran Was Killed By A Lightning Strike Right Before His Friend’s Eyes
TAMPA BAY TIMES
By TONY MARRERO
July 1, 2018

“People need to take storms seriously and seek shelter immediately. I never thought this would happen but it has, and it was a horrific experience that will never leave me.”

As the rain poured, Karen Zannone’s new friend turned around and flashed a smile.

Zannone and James Barton had spent hours at the beach Sunday before the storm moved in. Now they were hustling back to Barton’s car, but neither minded the refreshing dousing.

“I remember him looking into my eyes and saying, ‘This is so great, I love the rain,’?” Zannone recalled. “I said, ‘I love the rain, too.’ We were definitely hurrying up to get back, but he was very happy.”

“He said the water was clear and beautiful and he had a great time,” Zannone said.

She grabbed her bag and they started the long trek to the car. About 10 minutes later, the sky opened wider.

They kept walking.

“I’m not afraid of storms and neither is James, so we weren’t thinking about it in a fearful way even though it was really, really bad,” said Zannone, a Florida resident since 1989.

“I’m beating myself up about why I didn’t say, ‘Let’s just go find shelter.’?”
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Marine Killed by Lightning

NC-based Marine killed by lightning strike while working on Osprey

CBS WNCN News

July 17, 2017

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — A Marine stationed aboard Marine Corps Air Station New River died after being struck by lightning while working on an MV-22 Osprey aircraft on July 11, according to the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing.

Corp. James in a WNCT photo. 

Corp. Skyler James, a tilt-rotor mechanic assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 261, Marine Aircraft Group 26, and another Marine were struck by lightning while working on the aircraft.

Following the incident, they were transported to Camp Lejeune Naval Hospital where they were evaluated for serious injuries.

The other Marine was released, while James was subsequently transported to UNC Health Center for further treatment.

Following several days of treatment and evaluation, James was declared dead.

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Fort Hood Soldier Survived Lightning Strike Needs Help

Wounded warrior needs community's help 
FOX San Antonio 
BY EMILY BAUCUM 
FEBRUARY 8TH 2016

"At Fort Hood, they were doing a live round training mission for combat. A storm came out of nowhere and he was struck by lightning right in the forehead," Laura says. "He took a direct hit to the head and it went all the way through his body, grounding out as he was running."

SAN ANTONIO - A veteran who served our country hopes you'll open your heart to him. First Lieutenant Garrett Spears was seriously injured in a lightning strike at Fort Hood. His family showed us his journey, and what you can do to help. "Ready? Let's see what you got," mother Laura Spears says as she shows Garrett a deck of cards. 

Life is a lot like poker: you play the hand you're dealt. It's a lesson the Spears family learned all too well. "My Harry Potter over here," Laura jokes as they play. Humor has helped the family persevere through a struggle that began a little more than two years ago when Garrett was a chemical corps officer in the U.S. Army. read more here

Lightning strike injures12 Fort Carson Soldiers

UPDATE August 4, 2012
Soldiers released from hospital after lightning strike

UPDATE
Lightning at Base Leaves 12 Soldiers Hurt
FORT CARSON, Colo.
August 1, 2013 (AP)

One soldier was in serious condition Thursday and another was in stable condition, but 10 others were released from the hospital after lightning struck near them during a training exercise, officials at Fort Carson said.

The 12 soldiers had been in training but were heading toward shelter when the lightning struck Wednesday afternoon, Army officials said. Medics who were present for the training treated them until emergency responders arrived.

Ten of the soldiers were released from the hospital Wednesday evening.
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12 soldiers hurt in Colorado lightning strike
From Carma Hassan
CNN
August 1, 2013

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
One soldier is in critical condition, Fort Carson says
12 soldiers are injured after a lightning strike from a fast-moving storm
Spokeswoman: "The lightning struck before they were able to get sheltered"


(CNN) -- A lightning strike from a fast-moving storm in Colorado injured 12 soldiers on Wednesday.

One is in critical condition, and the other 11 are in stable condition, Fort Carson said in a statement.

The soldiers had been training Wednesday afternoon when they were notified of lightning in the area.
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Community comes together after lightning strike kills veteran's wife

Veteran loses wife after house struck by lightning
Valley Central
by Veronica Gallegos
Posted: 06.15.2013

Most of the people that were at Raul Vera's home in Mercedes all had something in common; they honor the red, white and blue.

Many served in wars, fighting for this country.

"The flag represents everything that we hold near and dear as veterans of the armed forces that is our most sacred symbol," Americas Last Patrol member Mario Llanas said.

The group helping with Operation Clean-up is fighting for something else.

They are trying to help a man who lost it all, and will now have to rebuild his life that was shattered after lightning struck his house and set it ablaze a week ago.

Not only did the disaster destroy all Vera owns, but left his wife, Martina severely burned on more than 50 percent of her body.

Pictures are the treasured memories Raul Vera wants to recover, it’s all he has left of his late wife 78- year-old Martina Vera.

"They had disconnected her yesterday from life support and they were monitoring her, keeping her as comfortable as possible and I guess checking to see if she would improve but she kept getting steadily worse," Mercedes Veterans War Memorial Irma Agueros said.

With no signs of improvement Raul Vera made the hardest decision he’s had to make in his 89 years, taking his beloved Martina off of life support.

She died early Saturday morning.
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Veteran loses wife after house struck by lightning

Lightning strike kills 7 at nursery school party in South Africa

Lightning strike kills 7 at nursery school party in South Africa
By Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN
November 27, 2010 6:56 a.m. EST
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
30 people remain hospitalized with injuries
A 4-year-old child, two parents and two teachers are among the dead
A provincial spokeswoman says the lightning entered through a window

South Africa
(CNN) -- A lightning strike killed seven people -- including a 4-year-old child -- at a nursery school Christmas party in South Africa, a government spokeswoman said Saturday.
Forty others were injured when the lightning struck in KwaZulu-Natal Friday afternoon, said Mashu Cele, a spokeswoman for the province's social development department.
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Lightning strike kills 7 at nursery school party in South Africa

Florida: A dangerous place to live

I agree with this! They left out the rain. Coming from New England, I was used to white-outs with snow storms but never once heard of a "rain out" when you cannot see in front of you at all. I've been trapped on many highways when this happens. Not much fun that's for sure. Then there is the fact we moved from Massachusetts in 2004 right before Charlie, Francis and Jean decided to blow thru for a visit. We were told that Central Florida didn't have hurricanes before we decided where to live.

There is much to enjoy about Florida. One thing that's for sure is, there is never a dull moment on the news.

Florida: A dangerous place to live Florida may represent a paradise found for folks escaping frigid, northern climes. Newcomers, however, may not realize that while our state has natural beauty, it is also fraught with natural threats. Consider lightning strikes: Central Florida is the U.S. capital. And, statewide, lightning causes more weather-related deaths than all other kinds of weather events combined, according to the National Weather Service. Florida has been socked by three of the top 10 deadliest hurricanes; eight of the most costly; and five of the most intense, according to historical data compiled by the National Hurricane Center in Miami. We have shark attacks on the coast and sinkholes pock-marking our porous interior.

Destructive tornadoes have raked our region several times. And we 18 million or so Floridians share this uncertain environment with about 1.25 million alligators, a native species known to occasionally attack people, and an estimated "tens of thousands" of Burmese pythons, a non-native species that is proving to live up to its alpha-predator status.
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A dangerous place to live Florida

Storm leaves 4 in critical condition at soccer game

Storm leaves 4 in critical condition
Ten spectators at a soccer game were injured - four of them critically - in Dorchester when they sought refuge under a gigantic tree that was struck by lightning during a ferocious storm that swept across the region. (By James Vaznis, Globe Staff and Emma Brown, Boston Globe)
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Twister destroys 6 homes in North Dakota

Twister destroys 6 homes in North Dakota
Storm system also produces lightning that kills teen in Wisconsin
ROLLA, N.D. - Residents say they were warned well before a tornado struck their small town, destroying six homes and damaging others.

Sheila Zinke said the sounding of the town's tornado siren Monday gave her and visiting relatives time to get to shelter.

"I was watching it from my basement, and I actually saw it come across the north section of town," Zinke said.
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25587543/