TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. — A 15-year-old Alabama girl died Saturday after being struck by lightning while swimming off Georgia’s coast near Tybee Island, authorities confirmed.
The girl, who has not been publicly identified, was pronounced dead at an area hospital late Saturday afternoon, WJCL reported.
According to WSB-TV, the girl was struck while swimming at around 3:30 p.m., as strong storms with frequent lightning swept across the Georgia coast.
The Tybee Island Fire Department performed CPR while transporting the girl to the medical facility, the TV station reported.
“The City of Tybee Island is deeply saddened by the loss of this young woman. Our hearts remain with her family and friends,” city officials wrote in a prepared statement.
After speaking with the victim’s family members, investigators determined that the girl was 15 years old and had been visiting Tybee Island from Alabama, WJCL reported.