EAGLE MOUNTAIN, Utah — A man was knocked unconscious and flown to the hospital Sunday morning after lightning struck the ground near him in Eagle Mountain.
According to Utah County Sheriff's Sgt. Spencer Cannon, the 33-year-old man was walking with his wife on a trail near Porters Crossing when the bolt hit the ground just behind him. Cannon said at first they weren't sure if he was struck directly, but witnesses confirmed that it struck the ground.
The man was knocked unconscious and flown to the hospital by medical helicopter. He regained consciousness, but is having some "significant" problems with motion and feeling in his extremities, Cannon said. He is expected to survive, although initially there was some concern over whether or not he would make it.
"This may well be just the beginning of a journey for him, because lightning strikes are notoriously difficult to recover from," Cannon said. "No doubt, he's going to have some difficulties in recovery."
The man's wife was also impacted by the lightning strike, but not seriously, Cannon said.
