Lightning Strike Kills Hiker Inside Shelter On Utah Mountain

A nineteen-year-old hiker lost his life after a bolt of lightning struck the shelter he sought during a severe thunderstorm on Mount Timpanogos in Utah. The young man, whose identity has not been released, was inside a metal structure known as the Tin Shack at the mountain's summit when the storm hit early Friday morning. He was with nine other hikers who were also present on the peak.

When lightning struck the hut, it killed the teenager and left all nine of his companions injured. Hikers spotted the trouble and called authorities around 6 am, according to reports from the Daily Herald. Emergency teams raced to the remote mountain top to try to save him but he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. The Utah County Sheriff's Office noted that the rescue faced significant challenges because of the wild weather conditions and the isolated location of the peak.

Taylor Ehat, a photographer who was watching the storm from nearby, captured an image of lightning striking near the time of the fatality. He told NBC 15 that the very first photo he set up to take showed the bolt hitting at about 6:20 am. The whole day I've been showing it off, and then I learned the unfortunate news that somebody was killed. Ehat said his teenage daughter had planned to hike the mountain before deciding against it because of the dangerous weather. It hits close to home. I'm very sad that this individual lost their life.

The sheriff's office issued a warning for hikers to check the forecast and take precautions before setting out on any trail. If you hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning. A spokesperson explained that hikers should immediately move away from exposed ridgelines, peaks, and other high areas. They must seek substantial shelter when possible. Small structures such as sheds, shelters, and similar buildings do not provide adequate protection from lightning. The safest locations are large, fully enclosed buildings or an enclosed vehicle with a hard top.

Mount Timpanogos is the second-highest mountain in Utah's Wasatch Range and remains a popular hiking destination for many people each year. This death marks the second fatal lightning strike in the area this year. A fifty-nine-year-old man was struck and killed at American Forks Twin Peaks back in July.