'It's devastated me': Friends remember man who died after lightning strike along SC river

GEORGETOWN, S.C. — One person has died and several others were hurt after lightning struck a popular river gathering spot in South Carolina on Independence Day, our sister station WPDE reported.

News outlets report lightning hit near Lawshe Plantation in Georgetown County on Thursday afternoon. The hunting attraction and event venue is located along the Black River near the coast.

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The county emergency manager, Sam Hodge, said lighting struck near a sand bar and beach area that is frequented by local residents.

Lightning reportedly struck a tree, and people standing nearby were shocked by the force.

Hodge said emergency crews were taking three people to a hospital, and reports said as many as a dozen people were hurt in all.

WPDE reported Ryan Gamble died shortly after arriving at the hospital and his death sent shockwaves through the small South Carolina town.

"Something like that to strike him and him to die, it's devastated me and I just cry, and I cry, and I cry, and I cry," Eloise Ethridge said.

Ethridge said she remembers holding Gamble as a baby.

Officials said most of the others hurt in the lightning strike should be OK.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)

Associated Press