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At 5:33 p.m., the Duluth Fire Department responded to a lightning strike emergency involving a group of people near a sailboat at a Lake Superior beach area on the end of Minnesota Point, at the Wisconsin entry. Initial reports indicate that the group was on shore when lightning struck at close range. The group consisted of a family made up of a mother and father, two boys aged nine and five, and a grandmother and grandfather. Also in the group was a couple that is friends of the family. Everyone in the group was affected by the lightning strike to some degree. We do not have any of the people's names. At least three of the adults were seriously injured.

 

The nine year old was apparently found face down in the water by the five year old, who turned him over. The group started CPR on the nine year old boy. The boy was in very serious condition and was transported to Essentia Hospital in Duluth by a LifeLink helicopter. The other members of the group were transported by USCG and St Louis County Rescue boats to waiting Gold Cross Ambulances.

 

 The area is remote, approximately two miles from a road, and three miles from Sky Harbor Airport. The first fire department responders arrived at the remote area by boat at six p.m., closely followed by responders from various agencies that arrived on foot, by four wheeler, boat, and air ambulance. Some of these agencies were: St. Louis County Sheriffs Rescue Squad, Gold Cross Ambulance, Duluth Police Department, LifeLink, and the U.S. Coast Guard.