New York City — A 15-year-old boy was struck by lightning while walking through Central Park on Thursday afternoon, according to the New York Police Department.
The incident occurred around 3:45 p.m. near East Drive and 100th Street as a sudden thunderstorm moved across Manhattan. Authorities say the teen had been standing beneath a tree when a lightning bolt struck it. The current is believed to have jumped from the tree to a metal chain the boy was wearing around his neck.
“We found him sitting on the path right there,” an NYPD officer at the scene told local media. “He was still conscious. He’s lucky to be alive.”
Emergency medical services arrived quickly and transported the teen to Weill Cornell Medical Center. He was admitted in stable condition and is expected to recover. Police say he suffered minor burns around his neck, likely from the chain that conducted the lightning.
Thursday’s incident serves as a reminder of the dangers of being outdoors during fast-moving summer storms, especially near tall trees and with metal objects. Authorities urge the public to seek shelter indoors at the first sign of thunder or lightning.
The boy’s name has not been released, and no further information was immediately available.
