Two international tourists, women age 22 and 23, were struck by lightning Monday afternoon just before 4pm while standing near the rim of Horseshoe Bend in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. The women from Australia and the Netherlands were airlifted to St. George Regional Hospital. The extent of there injuries has not been made public.
Located about nine miles downstream from Grand Canyon National Park, Horseshoe Bend in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area is one of the most photographed geological features for tourists in the area. In the words of Glen Canyon National Recreation it is a “social media darling” with tourists flocking from around the world to get pictures of the Colorado River as it takes wide sweep around a dramatic sandstone escarpment.
Park official want to warn visitors to use caution during thunderstorm events that are most frequent during monsoon season from mid-June through September. The United States is struck by lightning about 25 million times a year and kills about 20 people each severely injuring hundreds more. Learn more about lightning safety below.
Glen Canyon National Recreation New Release:
A few minutes before 4:00 pm on Monday August 12, lightning struck two visitors while they were standing near the rim of Horseshoe Bend in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Two female visitors aged 22 and 23 years old, one from the Netherlands and one from Australia sustained injuries. Classic Air Medical and City of Page Fire Department quickly responded to assist National Park Service Rangers with on scene patient care. Both victims were flown to St. George Regional Hospital in Utah by Classic Air Medical helicopters.
Visitors are advised to use caution while visiting exposed outdoor areas and be aware of changing weather conditions. Thunderstorms are most frequent and severe during the monsoon season, which is typically mid-June through September in Arizona and July through September in Utah. If you hear thunder, you are at risk of getting struck by lightning and should immediately seek shelter in a vehicle or building.
More information about safety during lightning storms is available on our safety page and on the National Weather Service’s lightning safety page.
two women in what meteorologists believe is a rare field of static charge that hits before a lightning strike.
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Lightening Safety Overview:
There is no safe place outside when thunderstorms are in the area. If you hear thunder, you are likely within striking distance of the storm. Just remember, “When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!” Too many people wait far too long to get to a safe place when thunderstorms approach. Unfortunately, these delayed actions lead to many of the lightning deaths and injuries in the U.S.
The best way for you to protect yourself from lightning is to avoid the threat. You simply don’t want to be caught outside in a storm. Have a lightning safety plan, and cancel or postpone activities early if thunderstorms are expected. Monitor weather conditions and get to a safe place before the weather becomes threatening. Substantial buildings and hard-topped vehicles are safe options. Rain shelters, small sheds, and open vehicles are not safe.
When inside, do not touch anything that is plugged into an electrical outlet, plumbing, and corded phones. Cell phones and cordless phones are safe. Also, keep away from outside doors and windows and do not lie on a garage floor.
Understanding the Threat
The threat that someone will be struck by lightning depends on their behavior when thunderstorms are in the area. The graphs below provide some insight into why and when people are struck by lightning and what can do to lower their risk.
In the first graph, the threat of lightning increases as a thunderstorm approaches, reaches a peak when the storm is overhead, and then gradually diminishes as the storm moves away. At the same time, it’s people’s behavior that determines the risk of a fatal lightning strike.
While some people move inside at the first signs of a thunderstorm, many people wait far too long to get to a safe place. Some wait until the thunderstorm is overhead and it starts to rain. Others, due to poor planning, are caught outside and can’t get to a safe place. Although most people get inside, some put themselves at risk by touching items that could become electrified by a nearby lightning strike. Finally, many people go outside too soon after the storm has seemingly passed, often only waiting for the rain to become lighter or end. It is all of these unsafe behaviors that put people at risk when thunderstorm are in the area.
Minimizing the Risk
To minimize your personal risk of being struck by lightning, when going outside, plan ahead so that you can get to a safe place quickly if a thunderstorm threatens. If the sky looks threatening or if you hear thunder, get inside a safe place immediately. Once inside, avoid contact with corded phones, electrical equipment, plumbing, and windows and doors. Finally, wait 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder before going back outside. If everyone followed those simple rules, the number of lightning casualties in this country could be greatly reduced.
Lightning Victims
If someone is struck by lightning, they may need immediate medical attention. Lightning victims do not carry an electrical charge and are safe to touch. Call 911 and monitor the victim. Start CPR or use an Automated External Defibrillator if needed.
Women experiencing a static charge field at Horseshoe Bend in August 2023. The fact that her hair was standing up is a clear warning sign for a potential lightning strike.