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Lightning Strike Kills One, Injures Three at Florida Condo

7/4/2026

27 6 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

One man was killed and three others injured when lightning struck Island Winds Condominiums, Fort Myers Beach, Florida, on July 3 2026.
Bystanders and a paramedic performed CPR and used an AED at the water’s edge, but no shockable rhythm was detected.
Fire officials urged people to seek indoor shelter, avoid trees, turn off electronic devices and refrain from using plumbing during thunderstorms.

History

Historical Context

Benjamin Franklin’s 18th-century lightning bells built on Andrew Gordon’s 1742 electric-chime invention, and the U.S. federal government later created a nationwide detector grid that can locate strikes up to 10,000 km away. The National Weather Service’s real-time warning system now guides responders, as seen when a fatal strike hit Island Winds Condominiums in Fort Myers Beach.

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Story summary

One man was killed and three others injured when lightning struck Island Winds Condominiums, Fort Myers Beach, Florida, on July 3 2026.
Bystanders and a paramedic performed CPR and used an AED at the water’s edge, but no shockable rhythm was detected.
Fire officials urged people to seek indoor shelter, avoid trees, turn off electronic devices and refrain from using plumbing during thunderstorms.

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