Man struck by lightning as severe storms hit Horry and Georgetown counties

A man in Georgetown County was hit by lightning as a group of severe thunderstorms also dumped heavy rains on roads in Horry and Georgetown counties on Monday afternoon.

Around 2:46 pm, the National Weather Service issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for east central Georgetown County and south central Horry County.  The warning expired at 3:45 pm, but the weather service noted the storm was still moving northeast through Horry County.

Related: Click for local radar images

The man hit by lightning was struck just after 3 pm in the town of Plantersville, according to Georgetown County Fire Chief Mack Reed Jr.   Reed said that the man was under a truck at the time of the lightning strike.

The man told rescue crews that he felt as if he was being shocked during the incident, Reed said. The man was rushed by private vehicle to Station 11 on Pringle Ferry Road to get help from fire and rescue crews, according to Reed.

Rescue crews then transported the injured man to a nearby hospital for treatment. Reed was not sure what condition the man was in, but said he was alive.

In addition to lightning, the storm dumped heavy rain on already saturated grounds. Around 3:45, there were reports of several inches of water covering the road at the US 501 and SC 544 intersection, according to the National Weather Service.

  There was also 3-4 inches of water on the road at Highway 378 and US 501, reports from the weather service indicate.

When the severe thunderstorm warning was issued, Doppler radar indicated a severe thunderstorm capable of producing quarter size hail and damaging winds in excess of 60 mph. This storm was located near Murrells Inlet… and moving northeast at 10 mph.

 Locations impacted include… Garden City… Murrells Inlet… Litchfield Beach… Burgess… Plantersville and Waccamaw community hospital.

Doppler radar has indicated some weak rotation within this storm. Although a tornado is not immediately likely… if one is spotted… act quickly and move to a place of safety in a sturdy structure… such as a basement or small interior room.