4-year-old boy, corrections officer both struck by lightning in Columbia County

A 4-year-old boy and a correctional officer at the Columbia Correctional Institute were struck by lightning in separate strikes in Columbia County on Tuesday evening.

The correctional officer was struck around 5:15 p.m., authorities tell Action News Jax. The officer was outside at the time and received burns to his head.

He was conscious when EMS and fire rescue personnel arrived. He was transported to Lake City Medical Center for treatment and observation.

The 4-year-old boy was struck in the south end of Columbia County around 6:15 p.m. He and his parents were outside underneath a shelter when the storm started.

The little boy was playing in water in the rain, when lightning hit about 30 feet away. The boy felt the shock and he fell to the ground crying.

The boy's leg was initially purple, so his parents brought him to Fire Station 45, located at 12595 U.S. 441 in Lake City, according to Columbia County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Murray Smith.

The boy had no obvious visual injuries to his body. He was taken to Lake Shore Hospital and is in stable condition.

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