GRANBY, Mass.(WHDH)—A high school student in Western Mass. was struck by lightning on Tuesday but is alive thanks to the heroic act of some teachers.
Director of the MacDuffie School in Granby, Steve Griffin, was in a faculty meeting at the time when he heard the unbelievable news from a colleague.
“He announced that somebody had been struck and then I was just amazed at the response by our faculty,” Griffin said.
The response by faculty was CPR before anyone called 911, and it's credited with saving the 16-year-old student’s life. Lt. Michael Pandora was one of the first responders on the scene.
“When we got there was no more CPR because at that point she was breathing on her own and my understanding from the bystanders was that they did CPR for approximately 2 to 3 minutes,” Pandora said.
It was an incredible response during an incredible situation. The girl was sitting at a picnic table – it wasn't even raining at the time – and then lightning struck.
“Our director of admissions spotted that the lightning strike had taken place and one of our faculty members was able to make it out quickly and begin CPR,” said Griffin.
It was precisely that quick action that made all the difference, and perhaps more importantly, the nature of that action. About 90-percent of the faculty at MacDuffie know CPR.
“In my opinion they potentially saved that girl’s life by the fact that they did step in and immediately started CPR,” Pandora said.
“It’s people acting quickly and decisively and doing the right thing at the time of – that are able to make a difference,” said Griffin.
The difference between life, and death.
The parents of the 16-year-old girl said she is alert and doing well, and has already asked about her homework.