Officials have confirmed a teen has died as a result of a lightning strike at Orchard Beach Thursday afternoon.
The FDNY says seven people were hospitalized after emergency crews responded to reports of a lightning strike at the beach.
Police sources say Parks Department crews had started working to clear the beach in Section 10 shortly before 5:30 p.m. as it began raining. That’s when the 13-year-old boy from the Bronx appeared to suffer a direct hit by lightning that sent him flying into the air. He later died, officials say.
Officials identified the 13-year-old boy as Carlos Ramos, of the Bronx.
News 12 caught up with a family friend as she headed to the Ramos' family home. She says she has a deep history with the family, and they are all in shock.
The lightning strikes also injured a 41-year-old man, a 33-year-old woman, a 14-year-old boy, a 13-year-old girl, a 12-year-old girl, and a 5-year-old boy. All were taken to NYC Health + Hospitals/Jacobi and are listed in stable condition.
Family members say they were walking back to the boardwalk when they saw other lightning strikes near them, sending people running for cover.
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story had the victim's age as 15 but has since been corrected to 13.