© Screenshot Good Morning America
Amber Escudero-Kontostathis28, feels guilty for surviving a lightning strike that killed three others as they took shelter from the rain under a tree near the White House in Washington on August 4. She is the sole survivor of this deadly weather event which saw six lightning bolts strike the group in less than half a second. lightning killed Brooks Lambertson29 and James and Donna Mueller76 and 75 years old. Ces the latter two were visiting the capital for their 56th wedding anniversary.
The group hid under a tree during a summer thunderstorm, which was then struck by lightning and a thunderbolt which was caught on camera. Amber, who suffered burns after lightning crossed his body, revealed his guilt for having survived in an interview with Good Morning America.
“I don’t know why I survived. I don’t feel good being the sole survivor, that’s for sure“.
She said she was waiting for her husband to pick her up so they could celebrate her birthday as she went door to door near Lafayette Square for an association. “I was surprised to learn that I had been hit. I didn’t really understand it at first.“
She said she was unprepared to react to a lightning strike, recalling that she thought hiding under a tree was a good idea, because the tree”would catch fire, and you would run from the fire“.
More Vito MaggioloDC spokesperson Fire and EMS, repeated that it was not a plan sure: “Trees are not safe places. If someone seeks shelter under a tree, it’s a very dangerous place.“.
“Survivor’s Guilt”
Although her memories of the day are hazy, she remembers talking to James and Donna Muellerwho were both tragically killed that day. “I just hope I didn’t stop them to talk to them“, shared Amber in tears. “I hope they weren’t there because of me“.
The charity worker said she thinks her shoes may have been the source of her survival, as they were platform sandals with wide rubber soles.
“They certainly didn’t save my life. But I do think they contributed to a potentially lesser burn.“
Despite everything, the lightning went through the ground and shocked his body. She was rushed to hospital in critical condition, struggling to breathe and suffering from severe burns.
“I died and I came back“, she says. “I don’t think I had a heartbeat for a while. You don’t know when your last day may come“.
She was placed under respirator when she arrived at the hospital, but her mother said she recovered faster than expected, despite the severity of her injuries. The family added that Amber is “very scared”, keeps asking what happened to her and suffers from “survivor’s guilt“.