Tampa teen struck by lightning on Treasure Island

TREASURE ISLAND - A 16-year-old boy from Tampa and a woman from Texas were taken to Palms of Pasadena Hospital today after lightning struck the beach behind the Tahitian Resort, authorities say.

The boy was unconscious when emergency crews arrived. A Texas woman who a witness said is the boy's mother was also taken to the hospital. Treasure Island officials said she was also struck by lightning, but was consious when they arrived.

At about 1:25 p.m. the boy was taken from the hospital by a critical care ambulance. It was unclear where he was being taken.

The incident happened near 11260 Gulf Boulevard at 10:34 a.m., authorities said. Robert Johnson was there at the time. "I was sitting right here and I heard it. It must have been six booms in a row,'' Johnson said.

He said the boy was being cradled by the woman, who he said was the boy's mother. "His mother was hysterical,'' he said. "She was just screaming because he wasn't breathing.'' He said it was unclear if she had been struck by lightning, too.

Johnson said he helped perform CPR for about 15 minutes. "There was really no pulse then, very, very faint,'' he said. "I hope he's OK.''

Johnson said the boy's clothes were shredded and that a large circular burn mark covered his chest. When they turned the youth on his side, orange fluids rushed out of his nose and mouth.

Treasure Island authorities identified the woman as Maureen Machajewski, 46, of Texas.

The boy was unconscious when emergency crews arrived, Treasure Island officials said. A man who said he was the boy's father arrived at the hospital before noon and rushed inside.

A woman came out of the hospital to complain to reporters that the boy's mother was in the waiting room and became hysterical when she saw TV reports of the incident. Hospital officials said she was admitted for treatment.

Treasure Island officials said it had been raining for about 10 minutes when the lighting struck. Beachgoers lingered despite hearing thunder, they said.

"The incident shows the danger of fast-moving thunderstorms in summertime Florida, which has more lightning strikes per year than anywhere in the nation,” said Treasure Island Fire Chief Charlie Fant.

Fant pointed out that a lightning bolt can strike from up to 10 miles away. He said the average strike comes from 6 miles away and carries about 50,000 degrees of heat.

-- Abhi Raghunathan and Nick Johnson Times staff writers

Comments

[Cindy]

The Grace of God is still working in the situation.........my prayes go out to the boy and his mother and the rest of the family and friends who will be impacted by this.

[Alice]

Both were in critical condition. The report you have is very vague. She is still in the ICU after having her spleen reuptured and burns to her feet and legs.

Her son has been on a ventilator. He lost his life yesterday per his sister

[Sister-in-law]

As the sister-in-law to Maureen Machajewski and aunt -in-law of Sammy Santilli, I am appalled at your lack of professionalism and facts to sell papers and get ahead in your career.

Maureen and Sammy headed back to the hotel prior to the rain when they saw the clouds move in. There were 50-60 people left on the beach watching the skies, and one-man trap shooting, yes with a metal gun in his hands.

The hotel staff on duty that saw everything gave their account of that day and they admitted none of the truths they stated were printed. Sammy and Maureen were very close to the hotel on a beach the spans 1/4 of a mile away from the hotel before the water.

The hotel staff came and met the family as we placed flowers and balloons on the beach last weekend after Sammy's memorial service. They are compassionate people who definitely were not looking for 15 minutes of fame, only concerns for Sammy and Maureen.

They sent cards to the hospital. The shared their condolences. No reports gave their account of the day and no paper or news reporter talked about these caring compassionate people.

Maureen has very vivid images of exactly what happened, something she will live with for the rest of her life. Her ex-husband Sam Santilli gave a beautiful interview stating in his video interview that Maureen remembers everything, that she saw exactly what happened. They are two people who lived in Florida and Texas and the severity of storms.

They were very close to the hotel and that's why Mr. Johnson and Ms. Hewitt were able to administer CPR and try everything to save Sammy, but it was in God's hands. As for his mother she is not in the clear yet. She has many months of physical therapy.

It is very hard to swallow and is sickening that another human being, you and the paper you work, would look beyond being human for just a moment for their own gain of success in speculating and not writing the truth in your story than to show compassion for two human beings severely injured. Twisting the truth or reporting only what you wuld think would be readspecualtion.

Our families (Machajewski and Santilli) find it appalling that you even have a job as a reporter when the most important part of your job is to find the witnesses who saw what happened and TO PRINT THE TRUTH.

[sister-in-law]

I rephrased the article because Sam Santilli's interview gave me peace through this tradgey and I want him to know this.

As the sister-in-law to Maureen Machajewski and aunt -in-law of Sammy Santilli, I am appalled at your lack of professionalism and facts to sell papers and get ahead in your career.

Maureen and Sammy headed back to the hotel prior to the rain when they saw the clouds move in. There were 50-60 people left on the beach watching the skies, and one-man trap shooting, yes with a metal gun in his hands.

The hotel staff on duty that saw everything gave their account of that day and they admitted none of the truths they stated were printed. Sammy and Maureen were very close to the hotel. This beach the spans 1/4 of a mile away from the hotel before the water.

The hotel staff came and met the family as we placed flowers and balloons on the beach last weekend after Sammy's memorial service. They are compassionate people who definitely were not looking for 15 minutes of fame, only concerns for Sammy and Maureen.

They sent cards to the hospital. The shared their condolences. No reports gave their account of the day and no paper or news reporter talked about these caring compassionate people.

Maureen has very vivid images of exactly what happened, something she will live with for the rest of her life. Her ex-husband Sam Santilli gave a beautiful interview not only of his son which gave me peace, but he also stated in his video interview that Maureen remembers everything, that she saw exactly what happened. They are two people who live in Florida and Texas and they know the severity of storms.

They were very close to the hotel and that's why Mr. Johnson and Ms. Hewitt were able to administer CPR and try everything to save Sammy, but it was in God's hands. As for his mother she is not in the clear yet. She has many months of physical therapy.

It is very hard to swallow and is sickening that another human being, you, the paper you work for, and the President of the paper would look beyond being human for just a moment for their own gain of success in speculating and not writing the truth in your story than to show compassion for two human beings severely injured. Twisting the truth or reporting speculation of what you think would be read by curiosity seekers.

Our families (Machajewski and Santilli) find it appalling that you even have a job as a reporter when the most important part of your job is to find the witnesses who saw what happened and TO PRINT THE TRUTH.

i miss you soo
much!
i love you
and i wish u were
still here

[ClubFUZE]

There is a safe teen activity coming to Tampa. ClubFUZE is a club for teens age 14-18 in Tampa. You have to have an active school I.D. to join and attend club functions. The opening night is May 31, 2008 and ENIGMADANCEKRU is coming. Check it out.

[ClubFUZE]

There is a safe teen activity coming to Tampa. ClubFUZE is a club for teens age 14-18 in Tampa. You have to have an active school I.D. to join and attend club functions. The opening night is May 31, 2008 and ENIGMADANCEKRU is coming. Check it out.