Latest news with #YassinKhalifa
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Teen hospitalized after lightning strikes family sheltering under umbrella on Florida beach
A 17-year-old girl is in the hospital after lightning struck her and her family on a Florida beach just outside St. Petersburg. The family of three was struck by lightning while sitting under an umbrella at St. Pete Beach on Independence Day, local outlet Bay News 9 reports. The St. Pete Beach Fire Department responded to a call about the incident just after noon local time. The teen was taken to Tampa General Hospital. She was transported as a 'trauma alert,' which means she may have sustained life-threatening injuries. The girl was with two adults. First responders treated them at the scene, and they refused additional medical treatment, according to Bay News 9. Kyree Mejias told 10 Tampa Bay he witnessed the lightning strike while at St. Pete Beach with his family. 'It was so close to us, we could see the flash,' Mejias said. 'It was more or less just us trying to take care of the tent and all of that, he added. 'As soon as we felt the vibration and the shock, everybody just let go.' The Independent has contacted the St. Pete Beach Fire Department for more information. Florida is known as the country's 'lightning strike capital.' The state sees an average of 1.2 million strikes per year and has more lightning strikes per square mile than any other state. Lightning strikes about 25 million times each year in the U.S., killing around 20 people annually. Just weeks ago, 15-year-old Yassin Khalifa was also struck by lightning while under a tree in New York City's Central Park. He is expected to make a full recovery. "I can see, but I can't talk. I can't move,' the teen recounted to CBS News New York. 'So I'm just kind of locked in my body for a second until I get into the ambulance and I feel everyone trying to shake me.' "Apparently, I'm pretty lucky, because my spine was directly against the tree and no nerve damage happened,' he added.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Teen hospitalized after lightning strikes family sheltering under umbrella on Florida beach
A 17-year-old girl is in the hospital after lightning struck her and her family on a Florida beach just outside St. Petersburg. The family of three was struck by lightning while sitting under an umbrella at St. Pete Beach on Independence Day, local outlet Bay News 9 reports. The St. Pete Beach Fire Department responded to a call about the incident just after noon local time. The teen was taken to Tampa General Hospital. She was transported as a 'trauma alert,' which means she may have sustained life-threatening injuries. The girl was with two adults. First responders treated them at the scene, and they refused additional medical treatment, according to Bay News 9. Kyree Mejias told 10 Tampa Bay he witnessed the lightning strike while at St. Pete Beach with his family. 'It was so close to us, we could see the flash,' Mejias said. 'It was more or less just us trying to take care of the tent and all of that, he added. 'As soon as we felt the vibration and the shock, everybody just let go.' The Independent has contacted the St. Pete Beach Fire Department for more information. Florida is known as the country's 'lightning strike capital.' The state sees an average of 1.2 million strikes per year and has more lightning strikes per square mile than any other state. Lightning strikes about 25 million times each year in the U.S., killing around 20 people annually. Just weeks ago, 15-year-old Yassin Khalifa was also struck by lightning while under a tree in New York City's Central Park. He is expected to make a full recovery. "I can see, but I can't talk. I can't move,' the teen recounted to CBS News New York. 'So I'm just kind of locked in my body for a second until I get into the ambulance and I feel everyone trying to shake me.' "Apparently, I'm pretty lucky, because my spine was directly against the tree and no nerve damage happened,' he added.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Teen hospitalized after lightning strikes family sheltering under umbrella on Florida beach
A 17-year-old girl is in the hospital after lightning struck her and her family on a Florida beach just outside St. Petersburg. The family of three was struck by lightning while sitting under an umbrella at St. Pete Beach on Independence Day, local outlet Bay News 9 reports. The St. Pete Beach Fire Department responded to a call about the incident just after noon local time. The teen was taken to Tampa General Hospital. She was transported as a 'trauma alert,' which means she may have sustained life-threatening injuries. The girl was with two adults. First responders treated them at the scene, and they refused additional medical treatment, according to Bay News 9. Kyree Mejias told 10 Tampa Bay he witnessed the lightning strike while at St. Pete Beach with his family. 'It was so close to us, we could see the flash,' Mejias said. 'It was more or less just us trying to take care of the tent and all of that, he added. 'As soon as we felt the vibration and the shock, everybody just let go.' The Independent has contacted the St. Pete Beach Fire Department for more information. Florida is known as the country's 'lightning strike capital.' The state sees an average of 1.2 million strikes per year and has more lightning strikes per square mile than any other state. Lightning strikes about 25 million times each year in the U.S., killing around 20 people annually. Just weeks ago, 15-year-old Yassin Khalifa was also struck by lightning while under a tree in New York City's Central Park. He is expected to make a full recovery. "I can see, but I can't talk. I can't move,' the teen recounted to CBS News New York. 'So I'm just kind of locked in my body for a second until I get into the ambulance and I feel everyone trying to shake me.' "Apparently, I'm pretty lucky, because my spine was directly against the tree and no nerve damage happened,' he added.
Yahoo
21-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Teen speaks of shock after surviving lightning strike in New York's Central Park
A 15-year-old boy who was struck by lightning in New York City's Central Park has spoken out after the shocking ordeal. Yassin Khalifa was picnicking in the park with his friends Thursday afternoon when a thunderstorm rolled through, according to multiple local outlets who spoke with the teen. Khalifa recalled telling his friends to take cover under a tree, which he told Eyewitness News, 'in hindsight might not have been the best idea.' 'I lean up against the tree. Five seconds later, I am on the floor,' the teen told CBS News New York. Khalifa doesn't actually remember the moment he was struck by lightning, as he was knocked unconscious. He described being 'locked' in his body, which had sustained second-degree burns. "I can see, but I can't talk. I can't move. So I'm just kind of locked in my body for a second until I get into the ambulance and I feel everyone trying to shake me,' Khalifa said. Lightning strikes about 25 million times a year in the U.S., according to the National Weather Service. Roughly 20 people are killed and hundreds more are severely injured by lightning strikes annually around the country, the service says. Khalifa's mother, Khalida, told CBS News New York, "I was so scared to lose him because it was looking very, very bad.' His sister, Reem, said her brother was 'in a lot of pain.' Khalifa told Eyewitness News that he expects to make a full recovery. "Apparently, I'm pretty lucky, because my spine was directly against the tree and no nerve damage happened,' he said. Khalifa's freak accident has given Reem some perspective. "We were beefing about, like, $10 this week, and that's why I've been annoyed at him, but that's something so simple. It means nothing in hindsight of everything,' she told CBS News New York of her brother. In true sibling fashion, Reem found a way to crack a joke now the worst was behind them. "I'm kind of mad, though, because his curls stayed intact and mine don't, and I haven't been electrocuted," she said. Khalifa's family is hopeful their boy can be released from the hospital this weekend.


The Independent
21-06-2025
- Climate
- The Independent
Teen speaks of shock after surviving lightning strike in New York's Central Park
A 15-year-old boy who was struck by lightning in New York City 's Central Park has spoken out after the shocking ordeal. Yassin Khalifa was picnicking in the park with his friends Thursday afternoon when a thunderstorm rolled through, according to multiple local outlets who spoke with the teen. Khalifa recalled telling his friends to take cover under a tree, which he told Eyewitness News, 'in hindsight might not have been the best idea.' 'I lean up against the tree. Five seconds later, I am on the floor,' the teen told CBS News New York. Khalifa doesn't actually remember the moment he was struck by lightning, as he was knocked unconscious. He described being 'locked' in his body, which had sustained second-degree burns. "I can see, but I can't talk. I can't move. So I'm just kind of locked in my body for a second until I get into the ambulance and I feel everyone trying to shake me,' Khalifa said. Lightning strikes about 25 million times a year in the U.S., according to the National Weather Service. Roughly 20 people are killed and hundreds more are severely injured by lightning strikes annually around the country, the service says. Khalifa's mother, Khalida, told CBS News New York, "I was so scared to lose him because it was looking very, very bad.' His sister, Reem, said her brother was 'in a lot of pain.' Khalifa told Eyewitness News that he expects to make a full recovery. "Apparently, I'm pretty lucky, because my spine was directly against the tree and no nerve damage happened,' he said. Khalifa's freak accident has given Reem some perspective. "We were beefing about, like, $10 this week, and that's why I've been annoyed at him, but that's something so simple. It means nothing in hindsight of everything,' she told CBS News New York of her brother. In true sibling fashion, Reem found a way to crack a joke now the worst was behind them. "I'm kind of mad, though, because his curls stayed intact and mine don't, and I haven't been electrocuted," she said. Khalifa's family is hopeful their boy can be released from the hospital this weekend.