'Miracle' Escape for Young Hikers as Lightning Strikes Right Next to Them

About 50 members of a church youth group from Salina, Utah, were hiking on June 27 when lightning struck right next to them, sending seven to hospital, according to local authorities.

According to Sevier County Sheriff Nathan J Curtis, two of the teenagers were experiencing serious symptoms, though none of injuries were expected to be life threatening.

Footage by JaRelle Bailey’s 14-year-old daughter shows the group hiking near the Willow Springs Overlook as the lightning strikes.

“It started raining and then lightning struck the ground near all the kids,” Bailey told Storyful. “Because they were all standing in water they all got electrocuted by it. Some worse than others.”

One of the children in the video is seen lying on the ground after the strike.

“It was very scary, but all the kids are safe and survived. Truly a miracle,” Bailey told Storyful. Credit: JaRelle Bailey via Storyful

Video transcript

Hi, Mom.

So, can you walk?

Look at my shoes.

I'm soaked.

This is I just got here.

I just got hit.

Oh, my gosh!

I just got hit.

Did you This car?

Oh, we just got here, Mum.

We just got here.

Thank you.

Here on.

And I just got hit.

I'm OK, but he's not doing too well.

We got people.

Did you have?

Are you walking?

You kind of like, Oh, my God.

I saw my my Oh, my gosh!

Oh, my God!

OK, it's OK. You're OK. You're OK.

It'll be OK. Let's Let's go.