Teen struck by lightening in Gulf Shores Today

[beachbum_al]

This is scary because I was down there today.

http://www.wpmi.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=58C766FF-1BB9-4B1C-BC68-511E10537D1C

From NBC15 Website out of Mobile.
GULF SHORES, Ala.) July 6 -- A teenager is reported in critical condition in a Pensacola hospital after he is apparently struck by lightning on Thursday in Gulf Shores. It happened just off west beach, near the Harbor House Condominiums. NBC 15 reporter Leon Petite tells us, the storm may have caught the victim and his mother off guard.

Witnesses say the storm came up quickly, out of no where. The lightning strikes could be seen for miles. When it was over, a sixteen year old boy, identified as Adam Bradford of Killen, Alabama, was floating in the water.

An eyewitness, Tim McElyea of Huntsville, Alabama, describes what he saw: “Lightning popped real hard. The young man was standing 20 feet in the water, lightning hit, he fell down. His mom pulled him out of the water.”

Others who saw what happened say two Georgia men ran to help the teenager. They say the men performed C-P-R on the young man while fire fighters were rushing to the scene. “He didn't appear to be breathing until they worked on him,” McElyea says.

Rescue officials say it could happen to you. When bad weather is near, you should seek shelter immediately. Keith Martin is with Gulf Shores Fire and Rescue: “Anytime you're out on the beach and you can see a storm and you here thunder, go ahead and assume there is lightning involved with that. We want you to take cover. Don't assume it's not going to come near you. If you're not near a building, get in your vehicle. That's much better than standing outside near a tree or telephone pole that could actually attract the lightning.”

Following the accident, the teenager was taken by ambulance to South Baldwin Regional Medical Center in Foley and later transferred to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, where he was last reported in critical condition. Authorities say Bradford's mother was also knocked down by the lightning, but was not seriously hurt, so she was able to help her son to shore.
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[beachbum_al]

I also wanted to say that they say his mom and him was caught off guard. I was down there. You could see the clouds rolling in. They were fierce looking. The local mets kept telling everyone that was a high chance for severe storms. You could hear thunder all over the place. Lightening Strikes were seen from a distance.

I do hope he will be okay. He is in a good hospital if they took him to Sacred Heart.