Florida Keys Charter Captain Airlifted to Miami After Lightning Strike

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A fishing charter captain in the Florida Keys was transported by helicopter to a Miami-Dade County hospital Thursday morning following a lightning strike, authorities confirmed. The incident occurred around 6 a.m. near mile marker 81 in Islamorada as Capt. Richard Stanczyk of Stanz Fishing and his passengers encountered severe weather while departing for a bay fishing excursion.

The lightning strike rendered the vessel inoperable, prompting one of the clients aboard to contact emergency responders. A tow service subsequently brought the disabled boat to Bud N’ Mary’s Marina at 79851 Overseas Highway, where paramedics prepared Stanczyk, 44, for immediate airlift to the mainland.

Medical personnel transported the captain northbound to a Miami-Dade facility for treatment. As of late Thursday morning, his medical status had not been disclosed to authorities or media outlets.

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