COWPENS, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - Officials with Cherokee County Emergency Services said crews responded to reports of a woman struck by lightning Saturday.
The victim, Shyane Gosnell, said she was with and her friend, Porsha Staley, and their young daughters at Cowpens National Battlefield when she was hit by lightning. She said storms rolled in quickly and unexpectedly.
“The storm came out of nowhere, and it came on very, very quickly,” Gosnell recalled being told by emergency responders. “Nobody knew it was about to storm like this.”
All five sought shelter in a picnic pavilion as strong winds knocked down trees, according to Gosnell.
Gosnell said she pushed the children against a brick wall and shielded them from the storm. That’s when she was struck by lightning in her leg.
“Immediately, I felt the shock through my leg and it went all the way up to my body. My hearing went out just for a second,” Gosnell said. “It felt like fire, like a burning pins and needles shock.”
Gosnell said the lightning strike left her unable to feel her legs, causing her to rely on her 10-year-old daughter to take charge and relay information to emergency dispatchers while Staley left to go get help.
“She was like a grown-up,” Gosnell said. “She was like, ‘Mom, you need to do this... Girls, let’s remain calm, we got this.’”
Staley recalls having to navigate fallen trees on the way to her car.
Fire crews reported more than 20 trees were downed inside the park due to the storm.
When trying to re-enter the park, Staley said the gate was locked. She said EMS personnel also has some issues getting inside as the gate was locked early.
Staley said she went into fight-or-flight mode after Gosnell was struck by lightning.
“I gotta save my friend,” Staley said. “This is not only my friend, like my child looks at her also like a mama figure.”
Gosnell was taken to the hospital by EMS, and was released just hours later.
“We took our children to have a good time, and then this happened,” Gosnell said. “That was not on my Bingo card for this year.”
Those interested in donating to help pay for Gosnell’s medical expenses can click here.
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