Amber Siratt
Kern Valley Sun

"My body felt like it was on fire,” explained Lake Isabella resident Tyler Simmons during a segment on ABC’s Good Morning America, when he described how he felt when electricity passed through his body after lightning struck near him last Wednesday.

The 13-year-old had just finished mowing a neighbor’s lawn and was riding his bicycle back home on Kem Street when a thunderstorm sent down a bolt of lightning. It is believed that the lightning either struck Simmons’ bicycle or near him, which sent electricity through his body and caused the teenager to be hurled off of his bicycle. Two of Simmons’ neighbors were outside and witnessed the lightning strike. “He landed face down and I was about to ask if he was okay when he got up screaming and ran to the nearest house for cover. I ran to him calling his name,” said Michelle Hansen. After reaching Simmons, Hansen sat him down and dialed 911. Hansen, along with fellow neighbor Marcie Bushling, applied cold water to Simmons’ injuries as instructed by the 911 operator. Bushling relayed information via cell phone to Simmons’ mom Tammy, who was at work at the time and was at her son’s side in a matter of minutes once receiving word of the incident.

Tyler Simmons with the bicycle he was riding when it was hit by lightning in his Lake Isabella neighborhood June 3. Simmons and his bike sustained minor injuries.

Simmons was transported by ambulance to Kern Valley Hospital where he was evaluated and treated for minor injuries and released later the same day. “I just thank God that Tyler had a happy ending. He is one of the sweetest, kindest, hard-working boys that I know,” said Hansen.

According to the National Weather Service, the seventh annual National Lightning Safety Awareness Week is scheduled for June 21-27. If you are caught outside during a thunderstorm seek shelter as quickly as possible to protect yourself from lightning strikes. Finding a building or car is the safest bet. If you find yourself in an area where absolutely no shelter is available, your best option is to put your feet together and crouch down as low as possible without touching the ground. When it comes to lightning safety, remember the 30/30 rule. After you see lightning, count the seconds until you hear thunder. If the count is 30 seconds or less you need to find shelter. When you think the storm is over and you see the last lightning strike, wait for at least 30 minutes before you leave your shelter. For more information on lightning safety visit http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/