A bolt of lightning struck down during the TOUR Championship that sent 6 people to the hospital, including a child.
According to Dekalb County Fire, the lightning struck a tree at the East Lake Golf Course in Atlanta during the PGA’s FedEx Cup.
Several people on social media captured the bolt coming down from the sky and setting fire to a tree on the golf course.
Lightening strike at the FedEx cup championship in Atlanta. Hope everyone is ok. #FedExCup pic.twitter.com/gbSFvVJwHO
— Blake (@Bcicles) August 24, 2019
Officials say five men and a girl who were standing under the tree during the storm were injured, but none of the injuries appear to be life-threatening.
A spokesperson for the police department said the victims were taken to a local hospital where they are, “alert, conscious, and breathing.”
The tree was located in between the 15th and 16th holes and could be seen afterwards with an electric bolt scar from the lightning.
Several witnesses on scene say the lightning strike sounded like a bomb going off.
The injuries to the crowd appear to be from debris that flew off the tree when it was hit by the bolt.
Firefighters rushed to the scene to put out the fire and treat victims. “Our latest report is that their injuries do not appear to be life-threatening,” a spokesperson said.
The third round of the tournament suspended play 30 minutes earlier due to the dangerous weather, and organizers believe several people had taken refuge under a few trees to get out of the weather.
According to a statement from the PGA:
“The safety of our fans, players and partners is of the utmost importance.”
Justin Thomas is currently the tournament, with Rory McIlroy and Brooks Koepka close behind.
The golf is expected to resume Sunday, where the winner will take home a cool $15 million.
