15-year-old killed, 3 others injured after lightning strikes hiking group in Colorado
The Strobel family said 15-year-old Levi "showed the courage and selflessness that characterized his life" in his final moments as he sought to protect his younger brother, who was with him on the mountain.
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DENVER, Colo. – Tragedy unfolded on a summer hike in the wilderness of Denver, Colorado, when a group of hikers was struck by lightning, resulting in the death of a 15-year-old boy from Erie.
The Cleer Creek County Sheriff's Office received a report of a lightning strike that occurred while five people were hiking along Mount Blue Sky on Sunday.
Denver Mountain Parks rangers responded after local first responders received a report of a lightning strike on the mountain summit at 1:22 p.m. involving an injured person.
Levi Strobel, 15, of Erie, Colorado, was killed Sunday in a lightning strike near the summit of Mount Blue Sky in Clear Creek County, Colorado. In a statement, his family said, "He brought immeasurable joy into the world and into the lives of everyone who knew him."
(Strobel Family / Clear Creek Sheriff's Office)
At the scene, rangers performed life-saving measures on 15-year-old Levi Strobel, but their efforts were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead.
A second victim, Levi's younger brother, was airlifted to a Denver-area hospital. Authorities did not provide an update on his condition as of Tuesday.
A lightning strike claimed the life of 15-year-old Levi Strobel near the summit of Mount Blue Sky in Colorado on Sunday. A second victim — Levi's younger brother — was airlifted by Flight for Life Colorado to a Denver-area hospital.
(Clear Creek Sheriff's Office / Alpine Rescue Team )
The two brothers were hiking as part of a group of five. Two other victims, both adult males, sustained minor injuries and were not transported to a hospital, according to a press release from the Clear Creek County Sheriff's Office.
In a statement, the Strobel family said, "Our family is heartbroken by the sudden death of our beloved Levi, who was struck by lightning on Mt. Blue Sky yesterday. Levi was deeply loved as a son, brother, family member and friend. He brought immeasurable joy into the world and into the lives of everyone who knew him. That joy was rooted in his relationship with Jesus Christ and nurtured by the deep love he shared with his family."
The Strobel family of Erie, Colorado, is mourning the loss of 15-year-old Levi Strobel, who was killed in a lightning strike on Sunday on Mount Blue Sky. In a statement, the family said, "Please honor Levi's memory by remembering his joyful spirit, his faith, his bravery, and the love he showed for his family."
(Strobel Family / Clear Creek Sheriff's Office)
The family said that in his final moments, Levi sought to protect his younger brother, adding that he "showed the courage and selflessness that characterized his life."
"He was a brave and loving brother, and we will always remember the devotion he showed to those he loved," the statement continued. "Although our grief is profound, we hold firmly to the hope Levi shared with our family: faith in Jesus Christ, who is able to save and who promises eternal life to those who trust in Him. That hope is sustaining us now."
The FOX Forecast Center said there were 19 lightning reports in the area around 1:30 p.m. MT on Sunday.
LIGHTNING-SPARKED WILDFIRES RAGE ACROSS OREGON AND WASHINGTON AFTER MID-JULY SEVERE STORMS
Lightning strike in Denver.
(FOX Weather)
While we might think of lightning dangers as only affecting those caught in the middle of a field, or stuck on a hilltop, lightning safety experts stress that being outside anywhere is a dangerous risk when lightning is in the area.
If you're outside during a thunderstorm, you're in danger. The priority is to get inside.
That can be inside a car or inside a building, but you should wait until 30 minutes after the last thunder to resume outdoor activity.