Howard County Boy in Critical Condition After Likely Lightning Strike

The Mason City Globe Gazette

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By Aaron Hepker

Story Created: Aug 6, 2012 at 1:04 PM CDT

Story Updated: Aug 6, 2012 at 1:04 PM CDT

RICEVILLE, Iowa - An 11-year-old boy who may have been struck by lightening Saturday morning at Lake Hendricks is in critical condition at the St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minn., a clinic spokesman said Sunday evening.

Gunnar Boyle, 11, of Elma, was fishing at the park and campground in Howard County when lightening struck, according to his aunt, Janice Levorson, of Overland Park, Kan., who was in the area for a family reunion over the weekend.

“We aren’t sure if it hit him,” she said, however, lightening did hit the tree he was under.

Levorson said as of Sunday evening, Gunnar was still unconscious.

“We are taking it one day at a time,” she said.

The incident occurred at about 10:15 a.m. Saturday.

The boy was taken by the Riceville ambulance to Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage before being transferred to St. Marys Hospital.