Youth group hikers hospitalized in Utah after lightning strike

Lightning struck a puddle in Sevier County, Utah, on Thursday, injuring several hikers from a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints youth group standing near the puddle.

Of those who were shocked, seven required medical treatment for electrocution. Two of them needed to be airlifted to a hospital in Lehi, Utah, while the other five were taken to other local Sevier County hospitals.

None of the injuries are expected to be life-threatening.

The youth group from Salina, Utah, was hiking south of Fremont Junction near the Willow Springs Overlook in the eastern part of the county when it began to rain, Sevier County Sheriff Nathan Curtis said in a release.

The rain formed puddles and lightning from the rainstorm hit a puddle near the group, shocking about 50 kids from the group.

More than 100 kids were hiking as part of the group, according to the Salina Sun newspaper.

“The lightning didn’t hit anyone directly, but it struck right close to where they were standing; the ground was wet from the storm and acted as a conductor for the lightning bolt,” Sheriff Curtis told the Sun.

The kids in the group, he said, were ages 14 through 17.

The other members of the youth group went back to Salina, about 139 miles south of Salt Lake City, and reunited with their parents.

“I’m grateful for the first responders. All of them. It’s a freak thing that happened and a flat-out miracle that we don’t have any life-threatening injuries.  What I’m hearing is the two that were life flighted north are starting to get feeling back, and the stake president and other leaders are checking up on those involved,” Sheriff Curtis said.

A stake is an administrative division made up of multiple congregations within the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Salina Utah Stake President is Jonathan Mason, a local mechanic and owner of a diesel service shop.