Three people were injured after being struck by lightning on a packed Florida beach.
The terrifying incident occurred at the St. Augustine Pier, a popular spot for vacationers and locals alike, on Saturday night.
A sudden storm rolled in and bolts of lightning lit up the sky on beachgoers.
Two of the victims were rushed to the hospital with one reportedly in critical condition, according to WJXT.
The other suffered minor injuries and a third person declined medical treatment despite being hit.
St. John’s County Fire Rescue closed the pier and began inspecting it for damage while treating the injured.
Officials said they expect it to reopen Monday.
‘Please avoid the pier while emergency operations are underway — and remember, when thunder roars, go indoors,’ the department warned in a Facebook post. ‘Stay safe and weather aware.’
Two of the victims were rushed to the hospital with one reportedly in critical condition. The other suffered minor injuries and a third person declined medical treatment despite being hit
St. Augustine Beach Mayor Dylan Rumrell urged residents and visitors to take incoming storms seriously.
‘There’s a big storm and lightning can hit at any time,’ he told News4Jax.
If you hear thunder, seek shelter immediately, he emphasized.
Witnesses described a chaotic scene as the lightning struck.
‘All of a sudden in the corner of my eye, I see a big flash, two seconds later I hear this boom and now my ears are ringing,’ a witness Jamar told the outlet.
‘I’m confused on what just happened. I’m over here scared, shocked, I don’t even know.’
The strike follows a string of lightning-related incidents this year.
Three people were injured after being struck by lightning on a packed Florida beach. The terrifying incident occurred at the St. Augustine Pier, a popular spot for vacationers and locals alike, Saturday night
According to the National Weather Service, six people in the U.S. have died from lightning strikes in 2025 alone.
Fatalities reported in North Carolina, Texas, Mississippi, Florida, and Oklahoma.
On average, about 20 people die each year from lightning across the country.
