Port St. John woman, 43, struck by lightning while inside a barn

PORT ST. JOHN, Fla. -- A Port St. John woman was rushed to the hospital Thursday afternoon after being struck by lightning.

The 43-year-old was struck in the 6300 block of Arborwood Avenue around 3 p.m. as a severe weather system moved through the area.

The woman told rescuers that she was inside a barn when the lightning strike occurred, according to Brevard County Fire Rescue spokesperson Lt. Jeff Taylor.

Taylor said she was treated at the scene and transported by ground to Wuesthoff Medical Center in Rockledge. Her injuries were not considered immediately life-threatening.

According to the National Weather Service, 21 people have been killed by lightning strikes in the United States. Hundreds more are permanently injured.

Officials strongly recommended that if severe weather begins to approach, stop all activities, seek shelter in a building or hard-topped vehicle, and wait 30 minutes after the storm before resuming activities. 

According to the weather service, lightning often strikes more than three miles from the center of the thunderstorm, far outside the rain or thunderstorm cloud.