Man Struck and Killed by Lightning While Hiking California Mountain Range
A man was struck and killed by lightning while hiking on a California mountain range on Friday.
Nicholas Torchia took cover from the storm near the John Muir Trail in Fresno County by leaning against a tree which was then struck by a lightning bolt.
The 37-year-old fell to the ground, and then told a group of fellow hikers that he didn't feel well, the Fresno County Sheriff's Office said in a statement Tuesday. Shortly after, Torchia became unconscious.
A doctor and a nurse who were on the trail administered CPR for three hours but despite their best efforts, he ultimately passed away.
The Fresno County Coroner's Office determined Torchia died by electrocution caused by lightning, according to the Fresno County Sheriff's Office.
Sheriff's Search and Rescue (SAR) members struggled against weather conditions but eventually were able to fly a helicopter into the remote area.
Around 6:00 p.m. local time, officers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP) managed to land a chopper at Blayney Meadows, where hikers had transported Torchia's body.
Torchia was flown to Fresno where his body was examined by the Fresno County Coroner's Office.
No other hikers were believed to be injured by the lightning strike.
The John Muir Trail is a popular route that spans 211 miles from Yosemite National Park to Mount Whitney and overlaps the longer Pacific Crest Trail.
Stacy Corless, a Mono County supervisor, was at Muir Trail Ranch at the time and said the lightning storm seemed to start suddenly with little warning. She also added that her friend was the doctor who administered CP to Torchia.
"When it started, there was a huge flash of lightning and a huge crash of thunder all at once that likely was the strike," Corless told The Sacramento Bee on Monday. "But I can't say for sure. ... It was a really severe storm. It rained for several hours and bad weather continued until maybe 5:30 or so."
Last week, a woman and her young niece survived after being struck by lightning while swimming in the sea off a beach in Florida.
The woman, 38, and child, 12, were reportedly both struck by lightning at about 6:10 p.m. on Monday, July 26, while swimming in the sea close to a beach at Clam Pass Park in Naples, Florida.
The unidentified pair were both taken to a local hospital, suffering from only minor to moderate injuries and are expected to recover.
