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Lightning Strike on Fort Myers Beach Kills One, Injures Several

Officials say first responders and a bystander performed lifesaving care while deputies continue medical evaluations and warn beachgoers to watch for dangerous summer storms.

Overview

  • A lightning bolt struck the 6500–6600 block of Estero Boulevard on Friday, July 3, and emergency crews found four people at the scene.
  • A bystander had deployed an automated external defibrillator and was performing CPR when crews arrived but one person remained unresponsive and was pronounced dead.
  • At least three other victims were taken to local hospitals for evaluation and treatment, and a fourth patient was treated on scene.
  • Gulf Coast Live Doppler radar recorded a lightning strike in the area around 2:18 p.m., and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office posted that deputies were on site investigating.
  • Officials urged residents and visitors to monitor weather, avoid water and seek shelter when lightning is visible, underscoring the high risk of summer storms on Florida beaches.