An unidentified 36-year-old man was struck by lightning while on a popular golf course in Florham Park, New Jersey. The man was hospitalized and said to be in critical condition following the Sunday evening incident.
At around 6:10 p.m., a man at the Pinch Brook Golf Course in Morris County collapsed after being struck by a bolt of lightning between the second and 16th holes. Nearby onlookers reportedly saw the man immediately lose consciousness and stop breathing.
One witness of the event was Mark Chiarolanza — a retired sheriff’s captain from Florham Park’s First Aid Squad. Chiarolanza and others nearby began initial CPR on the victim before emergency services were able to arrive on the scene.
“We commend the quick response and immediate life-saving efforts by not only trained medical personnel in the right place at the right time, but also civilians just wanting to help save the life of a stranger,” said Florham Park police spokesperson Brian Ford.
The injured man, who suffered cardiac arrest due to the lightning strike, was transported to a local hospital and later transferred to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston. His current condition remains unknown.
Multiple New Jersey Lightning Strikes
The incident comes just one month after another man was killed by a lightning strike on another New Jersey golf course. 28-year-old Simon John Mariani was struck by lightning on July 8 at Ballyowen Golf Club while participating in a competition. He died a week later from his injuries.
A week later on July 17, a 61-year-old archery instructor at the Black Knight Bowbenders Archery Range died after being struck by lightning in Jackson, New Jersey. 13 others, mostly children, were also injured in the blast.
