Lightning Strikes Men On R.I. Beach

[fishdump]

Lightning Strikes Men On R.I. Beach
One Man Suffers Critical Injuries

POSTED: 12:23 pm EDT August 11, 2004
UPDATED: 1:21 pm EDT August 11, 2004

NARRAGANSETT, R.I. -- Lightning struck two men during their fishing trip in Jerusalem early Wednesday morning. One of the victims is in critical condition.


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Audio: Witness Rex Santerre Describes What He Saw
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The men were struck at about 6:30 a.m. as storms swept across southern New England. One man is from Connecticut; the other is from California.

The men were fishing on a jetty at East Matunuck State Beach after they left their cottage in Jerusalem. They started back to the beach when they saw and heard a thunderstorm approaching from the west.

Rex Santerre, of Thompson, Conn., whose family has summer home at the beach, was laying in bed when he saw the flash.

"Once the thunder passed, I heard a guy screaming and flailing his arms, 'Help, help, help.' I dialed 911, and he then went to try CPR," Santerre said.

The men, whose names were not immediately released, were taken to South County Hospital.

One was treated and released. The other is in critical condition in the intensive care unit.

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