BELLVILLE — A teenage boy was struck by lightning and seriously injured during football practice at a private school in rural Evans County, authorities said Thursday.
Dalton Raulerson, 14, is the son of Lawrence and Tonya Raulerson of Pembroke.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud boom and seeing a cloud of dust outside Pinewood Christian Academy when lightning struck Wednesday, sending football players scrambling from the practice field, said Claxton Fire Chief Harold Rogers.
Evans County Sheriff Randall Tippins said the
injured student, William Dalton Raulerson, was
taken to Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, where he was in serious condition Thursday.
Severe thunderstorms swept through southeast Georgia on Wednesday, but authorities said skies were clear outside the school when the lightning struck.
“It looked like pretty blue skies,” Rogers said. “There were not any dark clouds.”
The National Weather Service says lightning from thunderstorms can travel 10 miles or more and strike under seemingly clear skies.
Rogers said coaches immediately performed CPR on the injured boy, likely saving his life.
“If it hadn’t been for them being right there and knowing what they needed to do, it would’ve been bad,” Rogers said.