Firefighters Make A Tricky Rescue After Man Is Hit By Lightning

Tuesday, May 29th 2007, 8:56 pm

By: News On 6

A lightning strike seriously injured a man fishing on the Verdigris River Tuesday. The News On 6â€™s Emory Bryan reports his rescue posed a challenge for the people who were called in to help.

It's the lure of good fishing that keeps Glenn Blackman and his son coming back to Choteau Dam. They've caught several 20 pound flathead catfish, but even with that he knows when to leave.

"If there's lightning, I usually go home," said Blackman.

It's the recent rain that has the water up and makes the fishing good at the dam and just downriver where the accident happened. It's usually high water that's the danger here, but this time it was the weather.

Just down from the dam, a fisherman tried to take cover on the bank by hanging onto tree roots. He was hit by a lightning strike, possibly on the tree above him. Two other people nearby were not hit and were able to call for help.

Wagoner EMS and fire responded and Brice Martin helped rescue the man, while the rain and lightning continued.

"Only way we could get down to him was we had another fireman at the top running the rope, and we repelled down to him, because it was straight down. It was raining. It was solid mud. There was no traction," said Martin.

A locked gate forced rescuers to walk a half mile to the scene, and the eroded bank forced them to hoist the man up so he could be flown to the hospital.

"Theyâ€™ll always tell you nothingâ€™s ever textbook, and I haven't seen a textbook situation yet," Martin said.

The victim's name is Odi Messer. He's in fair condition Tuesday night in intensive care at St. John in Tulsa.

Watch the video: Man Struck By Lightning

WEB EXTRA: Firefighter Brice Martin Speaks About Lighting Strike Victim