A Sudden Tragedy in Serena
An 8-year-old girl died after being struck by lightning while playing on a swing set in Serena, Illinois, on the afternoon of Friday, July 3. Despite immediate life-saving efforts by family members, the child was pronounced dead at OSF St. Elizabeth Hospital in Ottawa, according to reports from local news outlets including WGN and WLS.
The Final Moments on the Swing Set
The incident occurred as a storm system moved into the area. According to family members, the child, identified as Kinslee, was playing with cousins when the weather shifted rapidly. Her grandfather, Chris Scheib, stated that the lightning strike occurred without warning as the family was preparing to move the children indoors.
Family members present at the scene, including the victim’s mother, who is a nurse, immediately performed CPR. Despite their efforts, the girl did not survive. Another child playing within a meter and a half of the victim remained uninjured, and no other adults present were harmed. The La Salle County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Sunday to confirm the cause of death.
Warnings from the National Lightning Safety Council
The National Lightning Safety Council (NLSC) confirmed that this tragedy was the fourth lightning-related death in the United States since the beginning of the year.
The Persistent Hazard of Midwest Storms
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