UNLUCKY STRIKE

Boy, 13, Critically Injured by Bronx Beach Lightning Strike That Hospitalized Seven

A 13-year-old boy is in critical condition after a bizarre bolt of lightning struck a group of people sitting on the sand at Orchard Beach.

Seven people, including children and teenagers, were reportedly hospitalized after being struck by a lightning bolt while they sat on Orchard Beach in the Bronx in New York City. Among them, a 13-year-old boy is reported to be in critical condition, but the other six victims are expected to survive. The unusual lightning strike happened during a fast moving storm on Thursday prompted lifeguards to clear the beach just moments earlier. “Prior to the incident, lifeguards had cleared all swimmers from the water, and Parks staff made announcements over the public address system instructing patrons to clear the beach,” the Parks and Recreation Department said in a statement given to CBS New York.