Teen struck by lightning on Marco Island has brain swelling

A teen who was struck by lightning mid-July on a Marco Island beach has brain swelling, a family friend announced Monday via social media.

"Pray big and bold," wrote Julie Chandler, a friend of the family.

William "Walker" Bethune, 17, was struck by lightning on Tigertail Beach on July 17, leaving him unconscious and not breathing, according to a report by the Marco Island Police Department.

At 3:51 p.m., Marco Island officers arrived and observed David Bethune, Bethune's father, performing CPR on his son. The officers also performed CPR until EMS and the Marco Island Fire-Rescue Department arrived, according to the report.

Bethune was transported to Physician's Regional Hospital on Collier Boulevard and later airlifted to a hospital in Miami.

David Bethune told police his son asked him for a baseball cap and, as he put it on,  lightning struck him, according to the report. Other family members were with William Bethune, including his mom and brother.

Bethune is a senior at Stratford Academy in Macon, Georgia, the school announced on social media.

More:17-year-old boy struck by lightning on Marco Island beach

And:Couple hit by lightning on Sanibel Island were vacationing with their children from South Carolina

On July 17, the lightning warning system on Marco Island alerted people to seek shelter at 2:15 p.m., more than an hour before lightning struck Bethune, said Bob Dugan, CEO and president of Thor Guard, a lightning prediction and warning company with approximately 150 stations across Southwest Florida.

Dugan said a "red alert" was in effect until 4:03 p.m., ending more than 10 minutes after first responders were dispatched.

Dugan, who lives on Marco Island, said the thunderstorm was moving away from the island when lightning struck Bethune.

"Lightning often strikes more than 3 miles from the center of the thunderstorm, far outside the rain or thunderstorm cloud," according to the National Weather Service's website.

"That was the last strike from the storm," Dugan said Wednesday.

Marco Island Fire Chief Christopher Byrne said his department has Bethune in their thoughts.

"We are all praying for him," he said.

Five people were struck by lightning in Southwest Florida beaches in three instances over 10 days, the Fort Myers News-Press reported.

A 38-year old man and 12-year old girl, were struck by lightning Monday evening at Clam Pass Park in North Naples and a married couple from South Carolina were struck in front of their young children on Saturday at Sanibel Beach Club.

The man and the girl were taken to NCH North Naples Hospital in stable condition and the married man was in critical condition as of Tuesday, according to reports.

'When thunder roars, go indoors'

The best way to avoid being struck by lightning is to seek shelter when the first sound of thunder is heard, Byrne said.

"When thunder roars, go indoors," Byrne said.

Byrne said this advice is particularly important to Marco Island beachgoers because they have to walk long distances to seek shelter when they are near the shoreline.

"The safest place to be during a thunderstorm is indoors and away from windows. That means no open garages, porches, covered decks or picnic shelters," according to National Weather Service's website.

NWS says the next best place to be is in a hard-topped vehicle with windows rolled up.

From 2006 through 2019, 418 people were struck and killed by lightning in the country, according to a report of the National Lightning Safety Council published last year. During this 13-year span, leisure activities contributed to 62% of the overall deaths from lightning.

More than 70% of the 418 lightning deaths happened during June, July and August, the peak months for lightning activity across the country.

From 2011 to 2020, 49 lightning fatalities happened in Florida, the most in any state, according to data from NWS. The second state with most lightning deaths is Texas with 22 during the same time period.

There are more than 10 lightning warning stations on Marco Island, including one on Tigertail Beach, Byrne said.

These stations can predict when there is a high probability of lightning in the area. When there is high probability, a one-time, 15-second siren blast will sound and a flashing strobe will light, according to the city's website.

In case you missed it:Husband and wife hospitalized after being hit by lightning Saturday at Sanibel Beach Club

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Three siren blasts lasting five seconds each and the strobe turning off indicates that it is safe to be outside. The city's lightning warning system is active seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

On Marco Island, there are lightning warning stations at City Hall, Mackle Park, Winterberry Park, Tommie Barfield Elementary School, Hideaway Beach, Caxambas Park and Tigertail Beach. An additional horn with strobe lights is at South Beach.

Other stations are at Residents' Beach, Marco Island Academy, Marco Island Country Club and Marriott's Crystal Shores, Byrne said.

The city of Naples has five stations: Naples Pier, Lowdermilk Beach, Fleischmann Park, Cambier Park and Anthony Park Pool, wrote Nick Roberts, director of the Community Services Department, in an email Tuesday.

Collier County Public Schools has over 30 stations and Collier County has more than 10.

For tips on how to stay safe during a thunderstorm, go to https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-tips.

Contact Omar at omar.rodriguezortiz@naplesnews.com, and follow him on Twitter as @Omar_fromPR. Support his work by subscribing to Naples Daily News.