Two Florida Hunters and Their Dogs Killed in Suspected Lightning Strike
HIGHLANDS COUNTY, Fla. — Authorities say two men from Miami and their dogs were killed this week in what investigators believe was a lightning strike during a hunting trip in central Florida.
Bodies Found Near Levee
The Highlands County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) reported that deputies were called Wednesday, September 24, after the men failed to return home from a hunting outing. Before deputies arrived, officers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission located the hunters’ vehicle parked near a canal levee.
The bodies of the two men, ages 38 and 31, were later found alongside their dogs on the levee. Their names have not yet been released.
Sheriff Warns of Lightning Danger
Sheriff Paul Blackman emphasized the risks of outdoor activity during storm season, noting, “Our area gets more lightning than just about anywhere else in the country, especially in the summer. If you can hear thunder, that means lightning is close enough to strike, even if the sky doesn’t look too bad yet.”
The sheriff urged residents to avoid open areas, trees, or bodies of water during storms and to seek shelter in a building or vehicle once thunder is heard.
Recent Similar Tragedy
The Florida incident comes just one week after two 25-year-old hunters in southern Colorado were also killed by lightning. Their bodies were found after a weeklong search, and a coroner later described their injuries as consistent with a “pretty intense electrical jolt.”
Lightning strikes kill an average of 20 people in the U.S. each year, according to the National Weather Service, with Florida often ranking among the states with the highest fatalities.
Safety Precautions During Storms
Officials stress that the safest place during severe weather is indoors. If that is not possible:
- Get inside a vehicle with a metal roof.
- Avoid taking shelter under trees.
- Steer clear of open fields and bodies of water.
- Stay away from corded electronics, plumbing, and windows until the storm passes.
These precautions, authorities said, can significantly reduce the risks of injury or death from lightning.
Have you ever experienced a close call with lightning while outdoors in Florida or the Carolinas? Share your story in the comments on SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
