A kiteboarder was stuck by lightning on land, kite on the ground, on Monday outside St. Augustine, FL. I understand he was preparing to return to the water but had not launched his kite at the time of the strike. He is recovering in hospital currently. He may be the first kiteboarder who has suffered a direct lightning strike worldwide or at least that I have heard about. It is possible there have been others however. Lets hope the man has a full and rapid recovery. The health effects of lightning strikes to survivors can be quite severe. There have been those they had strikes nearby which they felt through ground transmissions.
"Kite-flying man struck by lightning on Florida beach
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
VILANO BEACH, Fla. -- Authorities say a man who had been flying a large kite is in stable condition after being struck by lightning on a northeast Florida beach.
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office says Weltzien Falk of St. Augustine was flying the kite with his son Monday afternoon on Vilano Beach.
Deputies tell The St. Augustine Record ( http://bit.ly/SZpJSf) that Falk's son, Kai, said he saw a flash of lightning and felt a tingle. Then he saw that his father had fallen to the ground.
Falk had been wearing a harness with metal rings that attached strings to the kite.
A bystander performed CPR on Falk until rescue workers arrived. Authorities say Falk had burn marks on his left shoulder. His son was not injured.
Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/10/02/3 ... rylink=cpy"
More early details about the accident and precautions:
HERE
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