[Geysers] Old Faithful lightning strike injures 11

[David Monteith]

http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2005/06/22/news/01ystonelightning.txt

Old Faithful lightning strike injures 11

By NICK GEVOCK, Chronicle Staff Writer

Eleven people were injured Tuesday afternoon in Yellowstone National Park 
when lightning struck just in front of the boardwalk at Old Faithful 
geyser, a park spokeswoman said.

A 12-year-old boy was the most seriously injured and had to be 
resuscitated, park spokeswoman Cheryl Matthews. Two doctors and a nurse 
were on the scene and gave the boy CPR.

The boy and the other injured tourists were taken to a park medical clinic 
at Old Faithful. Park officials did not release the boy's name.

He was later flown to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, 
Idaho, for more treatment.

Some of the other injured people were still being evaluated in the evening, 
while the rest had been checked out and released.

More than 200 tourists were in the area, waiting for an eruption of the 
famous geyser at about 3:15 p.m. when a violent storm rolled in, Matthews said.

"It was a very intense, fast-moving storm cell that moved through the area, 
producing rain and hail as well as additional lightning strikes," she said.

The National Weather Service in Riverton, Wyo., alerted park officials, 
Matthews said and it was announced in the visitor center that the storm was 
on the way.

The lightning struck a mere 15 yards from the boardwalk where the crowd was 
waiting. No one was struck directly.