More than a dozen people were hospitalized Tuesday afternoon after a lightning strike on a South Carolina lake.
Eighteen people, including 12 children, were taken to the hospital for their injuries at Lake Murray near Columbia, South Carolina, according to a spokesperson for Lexington County.
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Two other people were treated on the scene and released.
The Lexington County Sheriff’s Office told WRAL News happened around 5 p.m. Tuesday on the Dominion Energy side of the Lake Murray beach area.
WRAL News spoke with Elizabeth Johnson, who was at the lake with her 8-year-old son when the lightning strike occurred.
“There were a few darker clouds coming back from the Irmo side of the bridge,” Johnson said. “I just checked the weather radar, and there was nothing on the radar.”
She said shortly after checking on her son in the water, that’s when it happened.
“As soon as I got back to the table and sat down, [I heard] the biggest thunderclap of lightning," said Johnson. "It was just very scary and traumatic. It just, it hit the water.”
She said the lightning scared everyone at the lake.
“It got quiet for like two long seconds; it was just completely quiet and then everyone started screaming and freaking out,” she said.
Fortunately, Johnson’s son was not seriously injured.
“My son, his leg did get, I guess, a little tingle or shock in it, so he is having a couple of problems with his leg right now,” Johnson said. “But everything else checked out to be normal.”
During a scary time, Johnson said everyone worked together.
“Everybody cared about each other. You know, we were all rushing to the small kids, the older people that were hurt. It was very nice to see the community come together.”
Lexington County officials say everyone involved is expected to be OK.