Anaheim Couple Hurt When Hit by Lightning at Yellowstone Park
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An Anaheim couple were seriously injured Wednesday in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming when they were struck by lightning while sitting beneath a tree.
Park officials identified the victims as Vincent Zappala, 49, and Charlotte Zappala, 36.
They said the woman was airlifted to Bannock Regional Medical Center in Pocatello, Idaho, where she was listed in serious but stable condition. Her husband was flown in serious condition to the University of Utah’s burn clinic in Salt Lake City.
“They were sitting in the area of a tree that appears to have been struck by lightning,” park spokeswoman Virginia Varley said.
She said the incident on Specimen Ridge in the northern portion of the park was witnessed by a group on a geological field trip.
The ranger with the group radioed for help and he and a member of the group administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
A helicopter with a physician on board flew the victims to a road and they were taken by ambulance to Lake Hospital in the park before being airlifted to the other hospitals.
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