Certain tragedy is thwarted by the heroics of one amazing dog.
Two girls were struck by lightning while camping with family in Utah. Although the injuries both girls sustained are severe they are both fighting for their lives thanks to the family dog they had accompanying them at the time of the strike.
BEAVER COUNTY, Utah – Two girls were flown to a hospital after being struck by lightning in Beaver County Friday morning, and police say a family dog led relatives to the unconscious girls after the strike.
A press release from the Beaver County Sheriff’s Office states they were called at 10:45 a.m. Friday on a report of two girls who had been struck by lightning.
The girls, ages 8 and 16, were camping with relatives near Big Flat in the Beaver Mountains as part of a family reunion with attendees from Payson and Mapleton. The girls were riding on an ATV and had gotten off the vehicle to look around, accompanied by a family dog.
As the girls were heading back to the ATV, they were struck by lightning.
“The dog returned to the camp and alerted the family,” the press release states. “The family followed the dog back to the site where the girls were found on the ground unconscious.”
Both girls were flown via helicopter to Beaver Valley Hospital, and from there Life Flight took the girls to Primary Children’s Hospital. The 8-year-old girl was in critical condition when Life Flight left Beaver, and the 16-year-old girl was in serious but stable condition.
The family has released a statement regarding their condition.