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Park City teen back in Utah after lightning strike

Posted at 9:30 PM, Jul 19, 2013
and last updated 2013-07-20 00:19:09-04

SALT LAKE CITY - A Utah teen who was hospitalized after a lightning strike in Maryland last week is now in Utah recovering.

19-year-old Conner Benson and another man were outside on an Annapolis, Md., beach last Wednesday when lightning struck nearby, putting both in cardiac arrest.

"I remember walking up to the boat and then that's about it," Conner said. "Next thing you know I'm waking up in the hospital and it's pretty scary and fuzzy."

Both were put into medically-induced comas to avoid brain damage, but were pulled out on Friday.

Benson is now recovering at the University of Utah Medical Center. His memory is fuzzy and he's a little weak, but he's recovering well.

"When your heart stops you're dead and then to wake up from death it's almost funny," he said. "I'm lucky, I'm blessed. It's hard to say but it's really nice to at least come back. It's great to be back."