AUBURN, Ala. - A surprise storm left one dead from lightning strike while boating on Lake Harding on Friday night in East Lee County.
Toby Burrow, 34-year-old Valley resident, was located with no signs of life and immediately transported to East Alabama Medical Center where he was pronounced dead on arrival at 9:35 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service website, Burrow is the eighth person in the United States to die from being struck by lightning in 2017.
The emergency call was received at approximately 8:13 p.m. and Lee County Deputies, EAMC EMS and Beulah Volunteer Fire and rescue responded.
Lee County Coroner Bill Harris' report, Burrow and four other people were boating on Lake Harding when the storm caught them off guard. After lightning struck, the vessel was disabled and two of the occupants had to swim the boat to shore.
The other two occupants performed CPR on Burrow until they reached land and met the EMS. Two of the four survivors sought medical care after the incident.
Harris said he did not recall any other lightning strike deaths in the last three decades. Other national lightning stike deaths occurred in Colorado, Texas, North Carolina and four in Florida. The accident remains under investigation by the Lee COunty Coroner's Office and the Lee Country Sheriff's Office.
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