Chatham Teen Recovering From Possible Lightning Strike: Police

CHATHAM, NJ - A 19-year-old Chatham Township resident was knocked unconscious from what officials are calling a suspected lightning strike Thursday night.

According to authorities, Chatham Borough Police received a call shortly before 9 p.m. about a suspected lightning strike in Haas Field on Main Street.

A juvenile witness running on the rubberized turf field noticed a lightning strike close by and turned to see the victim, Brendan Darby of Rose Terrace in lying unconscious approximately ten feet from the soccer goal post, police said.

The witness did not actually see the suspected strike, but reports Darby was unconscious for approximately two minutes and woke in the prone position with a tingling sensation over his body, police said.

The witness ran to get neighbor John Tunny of Ellers Drive for help. Tunny went over to Haas Field and found Darby wandering around unsteady before escorting him to his home to summon medical assistance, police said.

Upon Patrol’s arrival, Darby was alert and conscious. He did not recall seeing a lightning strike nor did he recall falling unconscious. He appeared shaken but stable, police said.

The Chatham Emergency Squad and Paramedics responded, treating and transporting Darby to Morristown Medical Center for additional evaluation/treatment, police said.

The Chatham Borough Police Department reminds residents that there simply is no safe place outside in a thunderstorm. Therefore, it is very important to get to a safe place at the first signs of a thunderstorm. If you are caught outside follow NOAA’s recommendations to decrease the risk of being struck:

• Lightning is likely to strike the tallest objects in a given area—you should not be the tallest object.

• Avoid isolated tall trees, hilltops, utility poles, cell phone towers, cranes, large equipment, ladders, scaffolding, or rooftops.

• Avoid open areas, such as fields. Never lie flat on the ground.

• Retreat to dense areas of smaller trees that are surrounded by larger trees, or retreat to low-lying areas (e.g., valleys, ditches) but watch for flooding.

• Avoid water, and immediately get out of and away from bodies of water (e.g., pools, lakes). Water does not attract lightning, but it is an excellent conductor of electricity. For boating safety see NOAA PA 200252.

• Avoid wiring, plumbing, and fencing. Lightning can travel long distances through metal, which is an excellent conductor of electricity. Stay away from all metal objects, equipment, and surfaces that can conduct electricity.

• Do not shelter in sheds, pavilions, tents, or covered porches as they do not provide adequate protection from lightning.

• Seek fully-enclosed, substantial buildings with wiring and plumbing. In modern buildings, the interior wiring and plumbing will act as an earth ground. A building is a safe shelter as long as you are not in contact with anything that can conduct electricity (e.g., electrical equipment or cords, plumbing fixtures, corded phones). Do not lean against concrete walls or floors (which may have metal bars inside).

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.