LAKE CHARLES, LA (KPLC) - A charred hull is all that is left of a boat after it was struck by lightning, a day of fishing gone bad.
Winnfield Nagle was nearby at Fred's Lounge when it happened, but he said, at first, it just looked like an old boat.
"I thought it was an old fishing boat near the channel. I did not realize anything was wrong. When I got here and began talking to a guy about all of the police lights I realized something was wrong. He said there had been a fishing boat that was struck by lightning," said Winnfield Nagle.
Richard Bergeron and Joseph Landry, both of Lake Charles, were fishing when it happened. Richard Bergeron suffered minor injuries, but Joseph Landry was not so lucky. Officials said he was dead upon arrival.
"People really need to watch the weather when they are out this time of year. We have many lightning storms come up real quick, and they underestimate them. They can do a lot of damage in a short amount of time," said Remy Broussard with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
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