A tragic incident occurred at Kalispell Glacier High School on Monday night when a soccer player was struck by lightning during practice, resulting in him being hospitalized in the ICU. Two other individuals, including another player and an assistant coach, were also injured and are receiving treatment at Logan Health in Kalispell.
Glacier athletic director Mark Dennehy revealed that the lightning strike occurred on the soccer field around 5:45 p.m., prompting a swift response from the Kalispell police and fire departments. The head coach administered initial life-saving measures, including using an AED, before all three individuals were taken to the hospital.
Fortunately, one player and the coach are responsive and undergoing further evaluation, while the second player remains in the ICU. The school’s lightning protocol was followed, with the team staying off the field for 30 minutes after the storm had passed. Dennehy emphasized that the lightning strike was unexpected, occurring after the storm had seemingly cleared the area.
The community is rallying around the injured individuals, with Glacier High School posting updates on social media to keep everyone informed. The incident serves as a reminder of the dangers posed by severe weather and the importance of adhering to safety protocols to prevent such tragic events from happening.MTN’s Kiana Wilson contributed to this report.
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Photo credit www.montanasports.com
