Rocky Mountain National Park Hiker Struck By Lightning
A 31-year-old Thornton man was struck by lightning on Saturday (Aug. 17) in Rocky Mountain National Park.
A press release from the national park said the man was hiking below the tree line between Dream Lake and Lake Haiyaha when the lightning strike occurred. It is unknown if he was directly struck or near where the lightning struck.
Other hikers found the injured man and called park rangers.
Search and rescue crews were deployed and provided medical care. The man was brought down in a wheeled litter to the Bear Lake Trailhead. He was taken by Estes Park Health ambulance to Glacier Basin Campground.
Because of ongoing storms, Classic Air Medical from Steamboat Springs flew from west over the Continental Divide to a large meadow near the Glacier Basin Campground to assist in the rescue.
The man was then flown to Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland for treatment.