Lifeguard, 19, killed and seven injured by lightning in sudden storm

Lifeguard Keith Pinto, 19, was named locally as the victim killed by lightning in Berkeley Township, New Jersey

A lightning strike killed a young lifeguard and injured seven others on a beach.

They were all rushed to hospital in Berkeley Township, New Jersey, after the bolt struck during a storm on Monday afternoon.

Police confirmed the others on the beach did not suffer life-threatening injuries, but a 19-year-old man, named locally as Keith Pinto, was killed while on duty.

Witnesses said the dangerous storm suddenly swept in after being clear and sunny, giving them no time to take cover.

Abby Spurling said she was standing in front of the lifeguard chair when her friend Keith was hit by the flash of lightning.

‘He made everyone so happy,’ she told CBS2. ‘It doesn’t feel real. He was just an awesome person all around. It’s just… I’m speechless.’

Vince Ruffolo, who was visiting from Wisconsin, added: ‘It was almost like a bomb went off.

‘Next thing you know, one of our colleagues sees this young man fall off the chair, off the lifeguard, and then there were people in the area trying to work on him. You could smell like hair burning.’

The lifeguard chair sits overturned on the sand after being hit by lightning (Picture: AP)

A circle of beach chairs and personal belongings were abandoned on the beach after the tragic incident (Picture: AP)

It marked the second death of a young lifeguard at the Jersey Shore in a little over a week.

Rookie lifeguard Norman Inferrera was rowing a boat in Cape May when a wave knocked him unconscious. He later died in hospital.

Mayor Carmen Amato said the township’s beaches will be closed for a few days as counsellors are made available to beach staff and lifeguards.

Four of those struck by the lightning were lifeguards and four others were beachgoers.

A heartbreaking note is left at the lifeguard stand along with some floral tributes (Picture: AP)

‘This is a tragic and heartbreaking day for our town and the entire Jersey Shore,’ the mayor said.

‘This young person was out there every day protecting the lives of others. Our lifeguard teams, like so many along the shore, develop special connections with our community throughout the summer, which makes this loss even greater.

‘On behalf of myself and our entire community, I offer our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of this young man.’

A handwritten note in purple ink was left with some flowers at the base of the overturned lifeguard stand.

‘We were at the beach today and are grateful for what you’ve done for us by keeping us safe at the beach,’ the note read. ‘We are so sorry for your loss.’

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