Man Dies After Being Struck By Lightning in Long Branch
Man was fishing on the beach near Lake Takanassee
A 41-year-old East Rutherford man died this afternoon after being struck by lightning on Wednesday, according to Long Branch Police Capt. Jason Roebuck.
Roebuck said Sebastian Castillo was pronounced dead just before 2:30 p.m. after spending almost one day in the intensive care unit at Monmouth Medical Center in critical condition.
Roebuck said Castillo was fishing on the beach near Lake Takanassee with his son when he was struck by lightning.
Roebuck said Castillo's son immediately ran to a nearby house for help and the man was rushed to the hospital for treatment.
DVid krueger
3:06 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
People need to take care when storms are around. I was at pocono raceway when a man got struck and killed by lightning.
DVid krueger
3:07 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
My prayers for both families.
Thomas A. Blasi
4:49 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
His fishing pole probably acted like a lightning rod and, if he was standing in water he was a prime target for the flow of electricity. How many times we hear of such deaths whereby individuals are on a golf course during a storm and their club acts at lightning rod. Umbrellas unfortunately also attract lightening.
P.B.
2:02 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Not quite. Umbrellas, golf clubs, etc., may act as IMPROPERLY INSTALLED lightning rods, but not "as lightning rods."
Lightning will never strike a PROPERLY INSTALLED lightning rod -- which is to say, one that has a sharp point and is connected in a straight line to an excellent electrical ground. It would be foolish to install a rod to ATTRACT lightning, after all, and that is not what lightning rods do.
The misunderstanding occurs because most people simply have no clue how static electricity behaves. Static electricity "distributes itself" evenly over a spherical surface, but very unevenly over a pointed rod. The voltage at the point of a grounded rod in an electric field (like generated by clouds in a storm) is extremely high. This high field allows a flow of electricity between the field and the ground -- a large current. This current locally bleeds the charge from the electric field, greatly reducing the risk of an arc (i.e., lightning). To be effective in preventing a lightning strike, the lightning rod must be as high as possible -- higher than most surrounding structures -- and very well grounded. Multiple rods may be needed, each grounded by a cable that goes vertically to ground.
Cut that cable and the rod will not function as a lightning rod. Instead, it may act as the nearest ground point to the cloud -- attracting lightning.
Bob
5:35 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
I just love how some of you comment as if you were there...truly sad. My thoughts are with his son!
Sue
6:20 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
This is very sad. I knew this fine human being . He was a truly nice person. Great dad to all four of his children and devoted husband to his long time love- his wife. I will miss his humor and presence. He will long be remembered for his generous heart. He was a volunteer on his local emergency squad. He did many great things for his family, friends, neighbors and those he did not even know. I was lucky to have known him. Prayers to him and his loving family.
Patience
7:33 pm on Thursday, August 16, 2012
Very nice comment, Sue. Condolences also to his family and friends. It seems as though there have been more lightning strikes than usual in the area this year and more deaths resulting from same. Perhaps we all better pay more attention when we hear the thunder roaring in the distance and heed the advice given below:
"When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!'
The lightning safety community reminds you that there is little you can do to substantially reduce your risk if you are outside in a thunderstorm. The only completely safe action is to get inside a safe building or vehicle.
This is a great article for reference:
http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/outdoors.htm