Lightning strikes Marines; one dies, five injured

PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. (AP) Ÿ Lightning from a storm that came ''out of nowhere'' struck a group of Marine recruits on a rifle range today, killing one and injuring five.

There names were not immediately released. A spokesman said they were members of the 1st Recruit Training Battalion.

The storms ''came out of nowhere,'' said Capt. John. Church, a spokesman for the Parris Island training base. Instructors saw the lightning flashes and ordered the rifle practice halted around 7:10 a.m., he said.

The Marines were marching to a covered area when they were hit by the lightning bolt about five minutes later, he said.

The recruits were taken to the Naval Hospital in Beaufort, where one was pronounced dead and the others were being treated. Information on the condition of the injured was not immediately released.

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