2 deputies save man struck by lightning in the gulf

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. – Two Charlotte County deputies are being hailed as heroes for saving the life of a man hit by lightning.

John Norman saw the man in trouble out in the gulf and called 9-1-1.

“The rains came in and there was a sudden blinding flash of light and a tremendous wrap of thunder. I looked out onto the canal side out to Ski Alley — there was a jet ski drifting with a body floating in the water next to it,” Norman said.

The 22-year-old man was floating face up in the water.

Deputy James Mills and his partner, Deputy Seth Pelfrey, were patrolling an area nearby when they received the call.

“We weren’t sure exactly what we were going to face but once we got on scene it was a game-changing plan. We had to go into this game mode and act as quickly as possible,” Pelfrey, a rookie deputy, said.

Mills swam more than 60 yards to pull the man to safety, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office.

The man was wearing a life vest, but witnesses said it didn’t look good.

“I thought he was dead. He was the right color and he was not breathing an they were pumping water out of him when they dragged him up on the doc so i figured he was gone,” one person said.

The deputies performed CPR on the man until paramedics arrived minutes later. Mills said he was just doing his job.

“All you think about is that it’s someones loved one and that’s what we do. We go out there and do whatever to takes to save that person,” he said.

The rescued man survived the lightning strike but is in critical condition at Bradenton , officials said.