Teen Injured After Lightning Strike in Central Park, Authorities Say

Boy rushed to hospital after being struck by lightning in park

A 15-year-old boy was seriously injured Thursday afternoon after being struck by lightning in New York City’s Central Park, according to police reports.

The incident occurred around 3:40 p.m. near 101st Street and Fifth Avenue, where the teen was standing next to a tree when it was hit by a bolt of lightning. Authorities say the electrical current traveled through a metal chain the boy was wearing, causing him to be knocked to the ground.

Emergency responders quickly transported the teenager to NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center. He was reported to be alert, conscious, and in stable condition with minor burns, police said.

Lightning strikes in the U.S. are rare but can be life-threatening. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 40 million lightning strikes hit the ground annually across the country. The odds of an individual being struck in any given year are less than one in a million. Despite the rarity, the CDC reports that 444 Americans died from lightning-related injuries between 2006 and 2021, although over 90% of those struck survive.

Authorities continue to advise caution during thunderstorms, urging the public to avoid open areas and tall objects, including isolated trees, during lightning events.