(NC9) – Georgetown County Fire crews say one person has died and 11 people were injured after a tree near a river was struck by lightning Independence Day afternoon. Deputy county coroner Chase Ridgeway told WPDE the person killed was 44-year-old Ryan Gamble of Andrews, S.C., who died shortly after being transported to Tidelands Hospital in critical condition. Eight were also admitted to the hospital and three others were released, hospital spokesperson Dawn Bryant said Friday.

Investigators said a group of family and friends, ages 9-46, rode out a storm in the Black River. When the lightning hit the tree, electric currents shocked the people in the boat. The National Weather service reported the strike occurred 2:10 p.m. Thursday. We were in the water. A storm came fast. We couldn’t get back and it was either sit in the rain and then the lightning hit and it got the tree and then it hit every one of us,” said Georgetown resident Billie Camlin. When asked what it was like, Camlin said, “Like a shock through your body. Indescribable.” READ MORE