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2 Utah students critically hurt by lightning

Two students at a Utah high school have been critically injured in a lightning strike, according to ksl.com.
/ Source: NBC News and news services

Two students suffered life-threatening injuries when they were struck by lightning, school district officials said.

Police told ksl.com that the students were struck outside Snow Canyon High School in Santa Clara just after 3 p.m. The two boys, identified as Alex Lambsen and Christopher "Dane" Zdunich, were flown to the University Medical Center's burn unit in Las Vegas for treatment.

Washington County school district spokesman Brad Ferguson said school had just gotten out for the day when they were hit.

"They were just a few yards from the building," Ferguson said. He didn't know the boys' ages, but said Zdunich is a junior and Lambson is a senior.

The Spectrum of St. George reported the boys were standing under a tree, taking shelter from rain when they were struck. Other students were outside when it happened, but no one else was injured, Ferguson said.

A principal, two vice principals and a resource officer from another school, carried the boys inside the building and began CPR, St. George Police Sgt. Craig Harding told the Deseret News.

"They were afraid of another strike," Ferguson said.

Zdunich and Lambson were taken to a St. George hospital and were in critical condition when they were flown to Las Vegas, he said.

Santa Clara is a St. George suburb in southwestern Utah.