TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Fisherman Struck By Lightning Is Home From Hospital

ADVERTISEMENT

TBO.com

Published: July 2, 2008

Related Links

• Previous Coverage

Eric Troyer

TAMPA - A fisherman struck by lightning last week in Sarasota County was released from the hospital Tuesday after coming out of a medically induced coma. Today, Eric Troyer's family issued a statement thanking a witness who tried to revive him after he was struck.

"Eric is home today with a full restoration of the strong body, sharp mind, and steady personality we love," said the statement issued today by Troyer's family. "Eric and family wish to publicly thank Andy Cratty, who witnessed the lightning strike and did everything possible in response. Andy was God's angel for us in preserving Eric's life."

Troyer, an accountant with Kerkering Barberio in Sarasota, was struck while fishing off Siesta Key last week. He was in knee-deep water at the time and while the weather seemed fine, there was a storm in the distance, witnesses said. That's when the bolt struck.

Cratty, who was running near Midnight Pass Road, saw Troyer get struck as he held his surf fishing rod.

"There was a flash," Cratty, 42, said in a recent interview. "And he just fell."

Cratty performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation and when Troyer came around, Cratty ran to a nearby condominium complex and called 911.

He was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital where doctors put him into a medically induced coma.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT