COLUMBIA COUNTY, Fla. – Two people were injured by lightning strikes in Columbia County on Tuesday, authorities said.
According to Columbia County Fire Rescue, a corrections officer was struck by lightning about 5:15 p.m. at the Columbia Correctional Institution. The man had several burns to his head but was conscious when paramedics arrived, fire officials said.
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He was taken to Lake City Medical Center.
An hour later, fire officials said, a 4-year-old boy was playing in the water when lightning hit about 30 feet away and he felt the shock of it.
His parents, who were under a shelter at the time of the lightning strike, then brought the child to Fire Station 45, Fire Rescue said.
The boy was taken to Lake Shore Hospital in stable condition.
News4Jax Chief Meteorologist John Gaughan said there was a large storm in the area that produced a lot of lightning.