JUNE 20, 2015
CAPE CORAL, FL
A Cape Coral boat owner felt the wrath of Mother Nature Saturday evening. A lightning strike caused her boat to go up in flames.
Cape Coral Fire crews responded to the 1600 block of S.E. 41st Street around 4 p.m. in reference to a boat fire.
Marie Kratky was at a neighbor's house when she saw a flash of light and heard a thunderous sound. She immediately knew it was too close for comfort, but wasn't expecting where the lightning hit.
“We thought it was our neighbor's boat, but it was not. It was our boat,” Kratky said.
“We saw a big lightning bolt…and then a big boom and smoke. It was just crazy,” resident Carson Westfall said.
Firefighters were able to put the fire out in 10 minutes. No one was injured, but fire officials tell us the boat is a total loss.
Kratky joked to her husband a long time ago to get rid of the boat. But, Mother Nature took care of the job.
“It's not a loss at all,” Kratky said. “It's a blessing.”
Kratky also said her boat isn't worth anything, but her life is priceless.