Utah hiker killed by lightning just steps from mountain summit during trek with brother

A Utah antheral hiking with his member was killed past week aft a lightning bolt struck him conscionable steps from the acme of the highest highest successful Salt Lake County, authorities said.

Craig Nelson, 59, acceptable retired Saturday greeting with his member for the acme of the eastbound highest of American Fork Twin Peaks aft the brace rode the Snowbird tram partway up the mountain. The brothers had made the hike unneurotic respective times before, Salt Lake County Sheriff Rosie Rivera said during a quality league connected Monday.

Rivera said that astir 10:30 a.m. the brothers stopped to devour luncheon and noticed the upwind was opening to change. The surviving member aboriginal told investigators they watched the entity and, due to the fact that they ne'er saw immoderate lightning, decided to support going.

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Craig Nelson, 59, died aft authorities accidental they judge helium was struck by lightning adjacent the acme of the eastbound highest of American Fork Twin Peaks successful Salt Lake County, Utah, connected Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Facebook/Salt Lake County Sheriff's Search and Rescue)

"As we cognize successful Utah, the upwind changes precise frequently," Rivera said, aboriginal adding that the upwind is "very unpredictable."

About an hr later, the member reached the eastbound highest archetypal and turned astir to caput backmost down aft noticing the upwind had worsened, Rivera said. Nelson continued toward the summit. The member told investigators that helium saw Nelson abruptly illness astir 20 feet distant from him and believed helium had been struck by lightning.

Rescuers responded to a study of a idiosyncratic struck by lightning adjacent the acme of the eastbound highest of American Fork Twin Peaks successful Salt Lake County, Utah, connected Saturday, July 18, 2026. (Facebook/Salt Lake County Sheriff's Search and Rescue)

The member rushed backmost toward the Snowbird tram until helium regained cellphone work and called 911 soon aft noon.

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A Utah Department of Public Safety chopper rapidly located Nelson adjacent the summit, but rescuers had to hold for the tempest to determination done earlier they could safely scope him. He was pronounced dormant astatine the scene. Snowbird Ski Patrol aboriginal helped escort Nelson's member disconnected the mountain, according to the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Search and Rescue team.

A way starring to the barren rocky slopes of the glacial vessel beneath American Fork Twin Peaks. (iStock)

American Fork Twin Peaks rises to 11,461 feet and is the highest constituent successful Salt Lake County. Rivera emphasized that upland upwind tin alteration with small informing and urged hikers to cheque the forecast earlier heading out. She said hikers should permission exposed ridgelines and summits arsenic soon arsenic storms statesman moving in.

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The sheriff's bureau besides urged hikers to determination to little ground, enactment distant from isolated trees and bodies of water, and, if they cannot scope shelter, crouch debased with their feet unneurotic until the tempest passes.

The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office said the probe remains unfastened portion the Utah aesculapian examiner determines Nelson's authoritative origin of death.