Monmouth Beach Lightning Victim Dies

The victim of has been identified as Indira Tursunova, 48, of New City, Monmouth Beach police told Patch. She succumbed to injuries at 6:09 a.m. Sunday.   

Tursunova was struck by lightning Saturday at 7:41 p.m. during a severe thunderstorm that swept through the area and caused power outages for thousands. She was walking on a 12-foot-high sea wall after leaving an unguarded beach with her son, husband and friends at the time of the accident, said Lt. Dennis Cahill. Most of the beaches had already been vacated.  

At least two other people witnessed the accident, including a borough police officer who was patroling one block away, said Lt. Cahill. The officer immediately requested EMS, paramedics and fire department response; he also initiated CPR and used an AED (automated external defibrillator), said Lt. Cahill.

An additional police officer, an off duty EMT from the City of Long Branch, and a passing JCP&L power company lineman who is CPR certified assisted in attempts to revive Tursunova, who Cahill described as "non-responsive."

Monmouth Beach EMS and MONOC paramedics arrived and took over patient care; Tursunova was then transported to Monmouth Medical Center where she died less than 12 hours later, said Lt. Cahill. 

Lightning strikes are uncommon in the area. "In my 23 years as a police officer this is the first time I can recall someone struck by lighting in the borough," said Lt. Cahill.