ST. GEORGE — A Hurricane mother whose son was among the group of youth who survived a lightning strike while hiking in Sevier County was more than happy to make an unexpected trip to Richfield on Thursday.
Erin Leslie told St. George News in an email message that her son Andrew Holt, 18, was on a reenactment trek with members of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints youth group when they were overtaken by a storm.
“From what Andrew summarized, part of the camp began to flood so many of the kids were heading away from camp and grabbing cars, etc. to avoid flooding,” Leslie said. “The kids were paired off but in close proximity. Andrew was standing next to the young man that took the closest hit. Andrew felt it hit his neck and travel through his right arm and out the walker radio he was holding. They both briefly lost consciousness. The closest to them lost consciousness as well and they were the ones transported.”
Holt graduated in May from North Sevier High School in Salina. And according to a news release posted on the Sevier County Sheriff’s Facebook page, he was among a group of approximately 50 youths hiking south of Fremont Junction near the Willow Springs Overlook when a storm hit at about 1:45 p.m.
“A light rainstorm in the area produced water puddling on the ground,” Sheriff Nathan J. Curtis wrote in the post. “While (the youth were) hiking, lightning struck the ground next to the youth. Approximately 50 youth felt the shock of the lightning. (Seven) of the youth had some medical concerns due to the electrocution. The (seven) youth were transported to Salina by ambulances from Emery and Sevier counties where the youth were triaged for their symptoms.
“Two of the youth were experiencing some serious symptoms and were flown via medical helicopter to Primary Children’s Hospital in Lehi. The rest of the youth were taken to Gunnison Hospital and Sevier Valley Hospital. In the meantime, the rest of the youth were all accounted for and brought back to Salina and have been returned to their parents and there are no other medical issues being reported at this time. At this time none of the injuries are expected to be life-threatening.”
Leslie told St. George News “as far as we know, the kids sent home are all doing as well as expected. Exhausted and scared, but home.”
A quick reaction to the situation, she said, yielded positive results.
“The community rallied together and it was awesome to see how well everyone was taken care of,” Leslie said. “My son’s step-mom is a saint and called me here in Hurricane as soon as she heard the news so I could be there as well. Just being able to hug him made the trip worth it.”
Curtis echoed Leslie’s sentiment, lauding the efforts of emergency personnel.
“We appreciate all of our first responders who helped respond during to this incident: Sevier County Sheriff’s Office, Sevier County EMS, Salina Police, Sevier County SAR, Emery County Sheriff’s Office, Emery County EMS, Utah Highway Patrol and Richfield DPS Communications Center,” Curtis said.
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