Two hikers were struck by lightning on Monday afternoon while standing near the rim of Horseshoe Bend in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.
The victims, two females aged 22 and 23 years old, were visiting from the Netherlands and Australia. Both sustained injuries in the incident and were flown to St. George Regional Hospital in Utah, according to a news release by the National Park Service. No further details were given on their condition.
Horseshoe Bend is a horseshoe-shaped meander made by the Colorado River around a red sandstone escarpment in northern Arizona that attracts over a million visitors a year, but summer conditions in the area can be dangerous due to extreme heat and increased lightning strikes. The NPS was quick to re-issue advice regarding lightning safety, writing:
"If you hear thunder, you are at risk of getting struck by lightning and should immediately seek shelter in a vehicle or building."
They advise all visitors to practice caution when recreating in exposed areas, especially during monsoon season which typically brings changing weather conditions from mid-June through September in Arizona and July through September in Utah.
How to protect yourself from lightning
There is no safe place to be outdoors during a lightning storm, and it's vital to check the mountain weather forecast before you head out on any hike. If you find yourself in an exposed area with storm clouds brewing, the following is official advice:
- Get to lower elevations if possible
- Seek shelter
- Stay away from tall objects that attract lightning
- Ditch metal trekking poles
- Assume a crouching position
Learn more in our article on how not to be struck by lightning.
