Home World USA She’s the only real survivor of a lethal lightning strike close to the White House. Now she’s grappling with survivor’s guilt

She’s the only real survivor of a lethal lightning strike close to the White House. Now she’s grappling with survivor’s guilt

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She’s the only real survivor of a lethal lightning strike close to the White House. Now she’s grappling with survivor’s guilt

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Escudero-Kontostathis, 28, and three different victims have been driving out a thunderstorm beneath a tree in Lafayette Park on Aug. 4, a legislation enforcement supply advised CNN earlier this month.

Six bolts of lightning struck inside half a second, Escudero-Kontostathis mentioned on CNN’s “New Day” Thursday.

James Mueller, 76, Donna Mueller, 75, and Brooks Lambertson, 29 died from their accidents.

“I’m not sure why I’m the one that made it,” Escudero-Kontostathis advised CNN affiliate WUSA. “I definitely have survivor’s guilt because if I were to be this lucky, I feel everyone should be.”

Plagued by nerve harm from her waist down leaving her with no feeling in her legs, Escudero-Kontostathis is now depending on a walker to get round more often than not.

“Sometimes my legs just don’t want to do what they’re supposed to,” she mentioned. “It feels like almost like pins and needles is the best way to explain it, but just really magnified. Sometimes it feels like my feet are on fire or really cold because the nerves don’t know how to process pain.”

3 killed in lightning strike near White House

Escudero-Kontostathis mentioned medical doctors advised her they’ve by no means had a affected person survive what she endured.

“The emergency ER nurses actually brought my heartbeat back twice, and there were 10 minutes between those two heartbeats where I didn’t have oxygen to my brain, I didn’t have a heartbeat at all,” she mentioned.

Escudero-Kontostathis was canvassing the park for Threshold Giving, a grassroots group which fundraises for nonprofits just like the International Rescue Committee and the Humane Society, based on WUSA.

During the strike, Escudero-Kontostathis was carrying Doc Martin footwear with thick rubber soles she mentioned most likely helped cut back among the shock she absorbed, however she credit the emergency responders, hospital workers and US Secret Service for saving her life.

“Don’t just go out in a thunderstorm wearing Docs because that will not save you, that’s for sure,” she mentioned. “It is the miracle makers that allow miracle stories to happen so they get all the props, all the attention goes to them.”

An aged couple and a financial institution govt died from the strike

Escudero-Kontostathis continues to be attempting to piece collectively elements of time lacking from her reminiscence, however remembers assembly and speaking to the Muellers, who have been visiting from Wisconsin, earlier than they have been all struck.

“They were just really lovely wonderful people,” she mentioned. “My heart is constantly breaking for both of those families that are going through that loss.”

James Mueller and Donna Mueller, victims of the lightning strike in DC earlier this month.

The Muellers and Lambertson have been the tenth, eleventh and twelfth killed by lightning up to now this yr within the United States, based on John Jensenius, an skilled on the National Lightning Safety Council.

Lambertson, a vice chairman at City National Bank, was within the space on enterprise from Los Angeles.
Brooks Lambertson, one of the victims of the lightning strike in DC earlier this month.
“Brooks was an incredible young man who will be remembered for his generosity, kindness and unwavering positivity,” his employer mentioned in a web based information launch. “His sudden loss is devastating for all who knew him, and his family, friends and colleagues appreciate the thoughts and prayers that have poured in from around the country.”

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