2 Utah teens in critical condition after being hit by lightning outside high school

2 Utah teens critically hurt in lightning strike

SALT LAKE CITY — Two Utah teenagers were flown to a Las Vegas hospital with life-threatening injuries Tuesday after being struck by lightning outside their high school, Washington County school district officials said.

District spokesman Brad Ferguson said school had just gotten out for the day when Christopher “Dane” Zdunich and Alex Lambson were hit shortly before 3 p.m. outside Snow Canyon High School in Santa Clara.

“They were just a few yards from the building,” Ferguson said. He didn’t know the boys’ ages, but said Zdunich is a junior and Lambson is a senior.

The Spectrum of St. George reports the boys were standing under a tree taking shelter from rain when they were struck. Other students were outside the school when it happened, but no one else was injured, Ferguson said.

An administrator, school resource officers and others rushed to the boys and moved them inside the school, where they performed CPR until emergency responders arrived.

“They were afraid of another strike,” Ferguson said.

Zdunich and Lambson were initially taken to a St. George hospital but were later flown to the University Medical Center in Las Vegas. Both were in critical condition with life-threatening injuries when they left St. George. “But they were evidently stable enough to travel,” Ferguson said.

University Medical Center spokeswoman Danita Cohen said the boys remained in critical condition late Tuesday.

The district plans to provide a trauma counseling team for Snow Canyon High School students Wednesday.

“We feel terrible for the family,” Assistant Superintendent Marshall Topham said. “Our faith and prayers are with them, and we certainly wish them the best.”

Santa Clara is a St. George suburb in southwestern Utah.

Online:

Washington County school district, www.washk12.org/