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The incident took place around 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 4 when Putnam County Sheriff's Sgt. Matthew Monroe of the department's Marine Patrol Unit responded to a report of an occupied disabled boat on Lake Mahopac, the department said.
During heavy rain and frequent lightning strikes Monroe was able to locate the disabled vessel, near the northwest corner of the lake. The vessel was occupied by two men and two women, all ranging in age from 28-41, officials said.
One male passenger told Monroe that his boat and all of its passengers had been struck by lightning and that three of the four passengers required immediate medical care.
The sergeant immediately called for the Mahopac Fire and Ambulance to be dispatched to Mahopac Marina. With the assistance of Charlie Melchner, the owner of Mahopac Marine, Monroe was able to tow the disabled vessel, while the passengers were still on board.
Once the disabled boat reached the dock, two EMSTAR paramedics along with members of the Mahopac Fire Department boarded the vessel and rendered aid to the injured passengers, the department said.
Two of the passengers were transported to Putnam Hospital Center, and one passenger was transported to Danbury Hospital in Connecticut. The remaining passenger was evaluated and released at the scene.
Upon further inspection by Monroe and Deputy Christopher Tompkins, it was determined that the lightning strike destroyed the majority of electrical equipment on the boat, rendering it disabled.
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