Lighting Kills Boston Student, Injures Another During a Wyoming Wilderness Camp Training

A 22-year-old Boston student taking a wilderness camp traning course was struck dead by lightning at the Teton Wilderness campground close to the Yellowstone National Park on Tuesday, Aug. 2, 2022.

The companions of John D. Murphy tried to revive him with CPR for at least an hour until the emergency responders arrived. However, he was declared dead due to cardiac arrest.

Teton County Coroner Brent Blue had tried to determine if the lightning hit Murphy directly or if it passed to another object before him. According to the New York Post, Murphy was inside his tent when he was struck. A bolt of lighting packs more than 300 million volts, while an average household appliance has only 120 volts.

Another lightning victim was airlifted to a hospital in Idaho and was released the next day as his condition stabilized. Murphy and the injured were camping with nine other students of the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) and three camp leaders. Murphy had been completing an outdoor education and wilderness survival course.

"He died doing what he loved best"

Terry Watson, the president of the NOLS, issued a statement immediately after the death's confirmation. He said that this has been a sad day for NOLS and extended his condolences to the Murphy family.

Established in 1966, NOLS is renowned for its outdoor courses, often helping thousands of students a year in improving their backpacking, mountaineering, climbing and kayaking skills. However, over its 57-year history, there have been 13 fatalities due to accidents. This is the first case of lighting strike death in the history of the school.

In a statement to Jackson Hole News & Guide, the parents of the dead still thanked NOLS and said that, while they are rocked by grieff, they know that their son died "doing what he loved best" and surrounded by the beauty of nature.

"We know in his last moments he was with others who shared his passion for the wilderness and helping others," the family said.

NOLS extends support for remaining backpackers

Shana Tarter, the school's associate director for wilderness medicine, said that Murphy's group were on a 30-day wilderness trip. They were at the Teton Wilderness for about three to four days when a storm started brewing.

Due to the incident, two Teton County Search and Rescue Foundation members remained overnight with the rest of the backpackers because they could no longer fly out due to the inclement weather.

The following day, another helicopter flew in to evacuate the backpackers who said they won't be able to make it back by hiking due to emotional stress. Tarter said that NOLS also prioritized providing help to the remaining students and provided them with all the needs and support when they returned to the bases.

Meanwhile, the National Lightning Safety Council said that camping is the third most dangerous activity for lightining events. Murphy was the first lighthing death in Wyoming but the ninth across the U.S. for 2022.