A 19-year-old man was killed and several other hikers were injured Friday after lightning struck a small shelter near the summit of Mount Timpanogos in Utah.
The Utah County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team responded to the mountain at around 6 a.m. after a group of hikers encountered a severe thunderstorm near the summit.
The hikers had already reached the summit when the storm moved into the area. As conditions worsened, they took shelter inside a small structure known as the “Tin Shack” near the summit.
Lightning then struck the structure, injuring multiple people. A 19-year-old man suffered critical injuries and was pronounced dead despite efforts to provide medical aid, according to the Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
Search and rescue personnel and other responding agencies reached the summit to treat those who were injured and evacuate them from the area. The sheriff’s office said the location and severe weather made the rescue operation particularly challenging.
The man’s identity was not immediately released.
The Utah County Sheriff’s Office expressed condolences to the man’s family and friends and recognized the hikers and rescuers who helped those injured in the strike.