9 injured by lightning strike at field

COVENTRY, R.I. (WPRI) - Two of the nine people injured after a lightning strike at Foster Memorial Park in Coventry Wednesday night were still in the hospital as of Thursday afternoon, according to officials at Kent Hospital in Warwick.

Four people total, including one child, were taken to the hospital after a lightning bolt from a fast-moving storm struck nearby, sending a jolt through the crowd. 

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"It appeared as though there was an organized sporting event. Either a soccer game or soccer practice. What we were told by people on scene is that they left the field to seek shelter under a tree because it had started to rain," said Capt. Bill Hall of the Central Coventry Fire District.

Hall says no one was directly struck by lightning. However, the victims felt a powerful jolt because something very close to them was struck.

"We were able to determine that the area, the ground, possibly a fence was struck. These people happened to be in the area so they felt the charge," he said.

The four people who were rushed to the hospital all suffered minor injuries. Two were released and two others were still being observed.

Hall said some of the symptoms that can be caused by an indirect lightning strike include a rapid heart rate and difficulty breathing. It can also trigger other existing medical conditions.