By Theresa Armstrong

Reporter

tdunn@gcnewsgazette.com

A Grayson County woman was struck by lightning during the brief thunderstorm that passed through the county Monday evening.

At 5:58 p.m. June 9, the Grayson County E-911 office received a call that a female at 6242 Grayson Springs Road was struck by lightning and the Emergency Medical Services was dispatched.

Nicki Darst was outside when the storm began and just did not realize the danger of the approaching storm.

“It was peaceful outside,” said Darst. “I usually like storms.

”I was down at the playset with my girls, pushing my youngest girl and I looked over at the play house because there were ants everywhere,” explained Darst.

“The rain was coming down but we did not feel it because we were under the trees,” added Darst. “My feet might have gotten wet, I turned around and did not know what hit me.

“I fell right on my back and my body was burning. My whole body was on fire,” explained Darst. “then my hands and feet were numb and I thought I was dying. That’s when we called 911.”

Darst felt like the reason her five-year-old and two-year-old daughters were spared the lightning was because they were both on the swing when she felt the shock.

EMS transported her to Twin Lakes Regional Medical Center for treatment.

“They checked out my heart and stuff and after a while the numbness stopped,” said Darst. “They sent me home.”

She is grateful to be alive and thankful that it was not worse than it was.

“Today I am just bruised some and my veins are red in places. It looks like my blood might have burned or something,” said Darst. “It was just really scary but I am thankful to be alive.