Holly MatkinFlorence, AL – An Alabama police officer was hit by lightning while setting up barricades during a severe storm event on Thursday afternoon (video below).
The incident occurred at the intersection of Gresham Road and Chisholm Road, according to FOX News.
A group of Florence Police Department (FPD) officers were out in the heavy rain setting up barricades when one of them was struck by lightning sometime between 3:30 and 5 p.m., FPD Deputy Chief Mike Holt told The Birmingham News.
“He was responding to an area with flooding. He was there moving barricades. While he was there, lightning struck and he was struck by it,” Chief Holt recounted. “He called out for help on the radio when it happened, which was very impressive.”
His fellow officers immediately rushed to his aid and transported him to the North Alabama Medical Center, FOX News reported.
The officer suffered burns, but was awake and alert after being struck, the FPD said.
A FPD Officer was struck by lightning while putting out barricades at the intersection of Chisholm Rd and Gresham Rd. Other Florence Police Officers provided immediate first aid and transported him to NAMC where he is being monitored. He is conscious and responsive at this time. pic.twitter.com/4fcVR0hX6C
— Florence Police Dept (@FlorenceALPD) March 25, 2021
A bystander out recording the storm captured the moment when the bolt of lightning came down.
“Was out filming some flooding in Florence and caught this lightning strike that struck a @FlorenceALPD officer (who is doing ok in the hospital),” Will Corey captioned the Twitter video.
The incident occurred during a weather event so severe, the likes of it hadn’t been seen in years, according to the National Weather Service’s Huntsville office.
Do. Not. Let. Your. Guard. Down. Yes, this means you. EVERYONE across northern Alabama and southern middle Tennessee is still at risk for severe weather this afternoon and this evening. Be prepared to take action when storms fire later if you are in a warning! #HUNwx pic.twitter.com/vtsiDTBmQn
— NWS Huntsville (@NWSHuntsville) March 25, 2021
“To put this into perspective, we haven’t had a ‘High Risk’ day in Northern Alabama since April 28, 2014,” the weather service said early Thursday morning, according to FOX News. “We are expecting destructive winds, strong tornadoes, large hail, and flash flooding across our entire area, despite the location of the ‘High Risk.’”
Watch the incident unfold in the video below:
Was out filming some flooding in Florence and caught this lightning strike that struck a @FlorenceALPD officer (who is doing ok in the hospital) #alwx pic.twitter.com/FCQ4GionUQ
— Will Corey (@willsfc) March 25, 2021
