A New Jersey beach was struck by lightning, killing one lifeguard. The beach will be closed until after dark, and sirens will be going at least until 5:30 p.m., according to a report. According to officials however, lifeguards and beach personnel are allowed to go on vacation.
A lightning strike at a New Jersey beach killed a 19 year-old lifeguard
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A lifeguard was killed by a lightning strike Monday in New Jersey. Keith Pinto (19 years old) from Toms River was the victim. A few other beachgoers were also hurt, but they were all not seriously ill.
Pinto was struck lightning in Seaside Park’s 21st Avenue. Pinto died at the scene from his injuries. Other survivors were taken to local hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. Pinto and two other lifeguards, as well as four beachgoers, were both also seriously injured.
It occurred shortly after 4:30 pm and it was the second fatality in New Jersey from a lifeguard in less than one week. According to the National Lightning Safety Council, there have been nine confirmed lightning-related fatalities in the United States this year.
Pinto was one of three lifeguards and eight beachgoers injured in the incident. One of the injured was a 51-year-old man who lost his hearing after the strike.
Seven other people are injured
One lifeguard was among seven people who were hurt in the lightning strike that struck Jersey Shore late Monday. All victims were transported by ambulance to Toms River Community Medical Center where treatment was provided for any non-life-threatening injuries.
White Sands Beach in South Seaside Park was the scene of the incident. The scene was called by police at 4:35 pm. It is unknown whether the lifeguard’s stand was grounded or in compliance with lightning safety guidelines.
Berkeley Township lifeguards were the other two injured. Their jobs were at South Seaside Park or 21st Avenue beaches at the time.
Three other beachgoers and four lifeguards were among the injured. Most of the survivors were not seriously injured, but one suffered a serious injury. Some of the victims had hearing and dizziness issues.
Keith Pinto was 19 years old and a lifeguard from Toms River. He was about to become a sophomore at Ocean County Community College in Toms River. His sister said he was a fun-loving guy and a great “lifeguard.”
New Jersey’s National Weather Service has issued an advisory to residents to keep inside. Lightning strikes happen in all weather conditions.
Sirens are available from 9:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Hennepin County sirens will activate for severe wind speeds exceeding 70 miles an hour and tornado warnings. An alert siren could be activated to give an official warning in the event of a storm.
Several Twin Cities-area counties are going to test out their outdoor sirens this month. They’ll sound each for just a few moments. In most cases, sirens only sound during daylight.
It is just one part of a series of ongoing tests that are being conducted in most Minnesota counties. Each county checks their system at the least once every month.
Many test the system every Wednesday by going on a half-hour-long siren blast. This gives residents an opportunity to practice emergency drills.
Individual sirens can be activated throughout the year as part of maintenance. A community might test its sirens nightly if the weather is favorable.
In Lewes, a fire department siren sounded 47 times at night and 41 times during the daylight hours. A resident complained that the siren was excessively loud. The resident urged the department not to increase the volume.
Some time will be granted to lifeguards or beach staff.
In the past few weeks, lifeguards and beach staff in New Jersey have been on the receiving end of lightning strikes. Two of them were killed. One was in Ocean County while the other in Cape May. A third man was injured. Seven other people sustained non-life-threatening injuries. They were transported to local hospitals.
This year, the National Lightning Safety Council recorded nine deaths. One person is killed each month in summer, according to the council. It’s estimated that the odds of being struck by lightning are 1 in 500,000.
The Berkeley Township police confirmed that a lightning strike took place in the city. Authorities said the strike happened at around 4:35 p.m. at the 21st Avenue beach. The injured were all taken to the Community Medical Center, Toms River.
The signs did not indicate that there was a problem. Other beachgoers also reported having hearing difficulties, lightheadedness, and headaches. Others complained of their hair rising. CPR was administered and an automated defibrillator used to treat the wounded.
