Lightning Strike Kills Instructor, Injures 14 During New Jersey Cub Scout Outing

Tragic Lightning Strike Incident

• ⚡ A lightning strike during a Cub Scout outing at an archery club in Jackson Township, New Jersey, resulted in the death of a 61-year-old instructor and injuries to 14 others.
• 🎯 The incident occurred during an archery lesson where witnesses reported no rain or severe weather warnings, only cloudy skies.
• 👟 A 10-year-old boy, Ryan Koopy, was struck by lightning, with the impact reportedly knocking his shoes and socks off his feet.

Eyewitness Accounts and Aftermath

• 💥 An instructor described the event as a sudden flash, initially mistaking it for a bomb, and found himself on the ground amidst chaos with people screaming.
• 🤕 Ryan Koopy sustained second-degree burns on his foot and is recovering; his father expressed gratitude to first responders.
• 🤝 The Cub Scout troop plans to hold a benefit event to thank the first responders who assisted at the scene.

Lightning Safety and Statistics

• ⚠️ The National Weather Service reports this as the 12th lightning fatality in the US this year, with New Jersey having two, tying it with Georgia and North Carolina for the highest number.
• ⛈️ Experts explain that lightning can strike miles away from a storm, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as a "bolt from the blue."
• 🏠 Key lightning safety tips include seeking indoor shelter immediately upon hearing thunder ("Thunder roars, go indoors") and waiting 30 minutes after the last thunder before going outside.
• 🌳 The instructor who died was a victim of a "side flash" from a tree, while the 13 others injured on the ground were affected by "ground current" from the electricity dissipating into the earth.
• 🏊‍♀️ A reminder was given about the importance of immediate evacuation from water and elevated areas during thunderstorms.