Lightning strike claims life of 32-year-old South Carolina man
By
Chaffin Mitchell, AccuWeather staff writer
Published May 7, 2020 12:17 PM EDT
A timelapse of Earthcam webcams shows a severe thunderstorm with a shelf cloud overtaking Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on the morning of May 5.
Severe weather packing hail, damaging winds and lightning hit Chester County, South Carolina, on Tuesday, and one storm happened to turn deadly, which resulted in the first fatal lightning strike of the year in the United States.
The coroners confirmed the victim was 32-year-old Sirmorio Deonron Davis, who was struck by lightning as he was reportedly getting out of a car. The lethal strike hit the ground and water in the Chester Homes area off York Road, Chester County Coroner Terry Tinker said.
“I feel like I lost a brother more than losing a friend,” one of the victim's childhood friends, Isiah Brown, told WSOC-TV.
Lightning is seen in the sky during a storm. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Family and friends took to Davis’ Facebook page to express their sadness about his passing.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard it,” Brown told WSOC. “Once I did get on social media and seen the multiple posts put up about him, that’s when reality kicked it. It had me stuck for a moment because he was a real, down to earth, humble spirit. He kept me laughing. He told me, ‘Whatever you go through, don’t let it get you down. Don’t let it get to you.’”
In the U.S., an average of two people are killed by lightning by May 5; however, this is the first lightning-related fatality of the year, and the first lightning fatality in South Carolina since July 4, 2019. There were 21 fatalities across the country in 2019.
"Between 1991 and 2001, the average was 54 fatalities in the United States (each year)," John Jensenius, lightning safety specialist for the National Lightning Safety Council, told AccuWeather, highlighting one major key learning from having studied decades of data. "Over time, that average has been gradually decreasing. And at the end of last year, now that 10-year average is down to 27."
(Image/National Lightning Safety Council)
The peak months for lightning activity are June, July and August, which are also the peak months for outdoor summer activity in the U.S., according to an analysis of lightning deaths from 2006 through 2018 published by Jensenius in 2019. During this time, more than 70% of the lightning deaths occurred in the months of June, July and August, with Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays having slightly more deaths than other days of the week, the analysis states.
The Chester County Sheriff's Office said there was "significant" damage around the county and posted several pictures showing large trees toppled over. No other injuries or fatalities have been reported.
“As the old adage goes, 'When the thunder roars, head indoors.' Lightning can strike anywhere from 5-10 miles away from a thunderstorm, so just because you see sunlight, doesn’t necessarily mean you’re safe from being struck,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rossio said.
According to Rossio, it is better to wait until the storm has passed.
“If you happen to be caught in a thunderstorm, you are actually safer remaining in your vehicle than to run outside to get into a store or return into your house,” Rossio said.
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“If lightning strikes your vehicle, it will actually spread outward, like roots along the shell of your vehicle and then safely discharge into the ground, leaving the person inside completely safe,” Rossio said.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
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News / Severe Weather
Lightning strike claims life of 32-year-old South Carolina man
By Chaffin Mitchell, AccuWeather staff writer
Published May 7, 2020 12:17 PM EDT
A timelapse of Earthcam webcams shows a severe thunderstorm with a shelf cloud overtaking Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, on the morning of May 5.
Severe weather packing hail, damaging winds and lightning hit Chester County, South Carolina, on Tuesday, and one storm happened to turn deadly, which resulted in the first fatal lightning strike of the year in the United States.
The coroners confirmed the victim was 32-year-old Sirmorio Deonron Davis, who was struck by lightning as he was reportedly getting out of a car. The lethal strike hit the ground and water in the Chester Homes area off York Road, Chester County Coroner Terry Tinker said.
“I feel like I lost a brother more than losing a friend,” one of the victim's childhood friends, Isiah Brown, told WSOC-TV.
Lightning is seen in the sky during a storm. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Family and friends took to Davis’ Facebook page to express their sadness about his passing.
“I couldn’t believe it when I heard it,” Brown told WSOC. “Once I did get on social media and seen the multiple posts put up about him, that’s when reality kicked it. It had me stuck for a moment because he was a real, down to earth, humble spirit. He kept me laughing. He told me, ‘Whatever you go through, don’t let it get you down. Don’t let it get to you.’”
In the U.S., an average of two people are killed by lightning by May 5; however, this is the first lightning-related fatality of the year, and the first lightning fatality in South Carolina since July 4, 2019. There were 21 fatalities across the country in 2019.
"Between 1991 and 2001, the average was 54 fatalities in the United States (each year)," John Jensenius, lightning safety specialist for the National Lightning Safety Council, told AccuWeather, highlighting one major key learning from having studied decades of data. "Over time, that average has been gradually decreasing. And at the end of last year, now that 10-year average is down to 27."
(Image/National Lightning Safety Council)
The peak months for lightning activity are June, July and August, which are also the peak months for outdoor summer activity in the U.S., according to an analysis of lightning deaths from 2006 through 2018 published by Jensenius in 2019. During this time, more than 70% of the lightning deaths occurred in the months of June, July and August, with Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays having slightly more deaths than other days of the week, the analysis states.
The Chester County Sheriff's Office said there was "significant" damage around the county and posted several pictures showing large trees toppled over. No other injuries or fatalities have been reported.
“As the old adage goes, 'When the thunder roars, head indoors.' Lightning can strike anywhere from 5-10 miles away from a thunderstorm, so just because you see sunlight, doesn’t necessarily mean you’re safe from being struck,” AccuWeather Meteorologist Brett Rossio said.
According to Rossio, it is better to wait until the storm has passed.
“If you happen to be caught in a thunderstorm, you are actually safer remaining in your vehicle than to run outside to get into a store or return into your house,” Rossio said.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP
“If lightning strikes your vehicle, it will actually spread outward, like roots along the shell of your vehicle and then safely discharge into the ground, leaving the person inside completely safe,” Rossio said.
Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier and Verizon Fios.
Report a Typo