50 teens feel shock of lightning strike on hike, Utah sheriff says. ‘I saw the light’

A nearby lightning strike jolted 50 teens on a church hike, knocking some to the ground and sending seven to hospitals to be checked, Utah sheriff’s officials reported.

“It was so bright and the sound was so loud,” Peyton Bailey, 14, told KSTU. “There was ringing in my ears and it felt like a bunch of weight had hit my head and pushed me backwards.”

The incident took place around 1:45 p.m. Thursday, June 27, the Sevier County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

The teens, part of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints youth group from the Salina area, were hiking in eastern Sevier County when it began to rain, sheriff’s officials said

Lightning struck the ground nearby, shocking around 50 teens, although none were hit directly, deputies said.

Seven were taken by ambulance to hospitals to be checked, and two were flown to another hospital for serious symptoms, deputies said. None of the injuries were life-threatening.

“It was a really chaotic moment and everyone who I’ve talked to had said that they had felt one way or another, whether it was a big jolt or a small jolt,” Bailey told KSTU.

“I saw the light and then it just felt like a baseball, or something hit the top of my head,” Hudsyn Higgs, 14, told KSL.

Alyssa Rosquist, 17, told the station the strike knocked several teens to the ground and some appeared to be having seizures.

Salina is about a 140-mile drive south from Salt Lake City.

The National Weather Service says that no place outside is safe in a lightning storm. If you hear thunder, lightning is close enough to strike you. Immediately move to a substantial building with electricity or plumbing or an enclosed, metal-topped vehicle with windows up.

This story was originally published June 30, 2024 at 12:05 PM with the headline "50 teens feel shock of lightning strike on hike, Utah sheriff says. ‘I saw the light’."