(WSIL) -- A McKendree University Angler and Benton native was struck by lightning Monday afternoon, while practicing for an upcoming collegiate bass fishing event in Alabama.
The Collegiate Bass Championship says Trevor McKinney and fellow teammate Blake Jackson were running back to the boat ramp ahead of an upcoming storm, when their boat was struck by lightning.
Pictured
The spoke with the duo. Jackson said they were running down the lake in their boat when it started raining. Jackson said the next thing he saw was a bolt of lightning right in his face.
Both McKinney and McKendree University Head Bass Fishing Coach Jon Rinderer reported the shock went through McKinney's body and exited via his pant seat and out through the driver's chair in the boat.
McKinney told the Assoc. of Collegiate Anglers it felt like somebody shot him with a taser.
Following several intense moments in the boat as McKinney struggle to come to and recover, Jackson took control and safely navigated back to the boat ramp roughly 25 miles away.
EMS and other emergency personnel were waiting to provide medical care to McKinney.
All of McKinney’s vitals came back as normal and he was released there at the boat ramp. McKinney does not report any further illness or complications at this time.
“It was the only lightning bolt that we had seen all day. There weren’t any before that, and we didn’t see any after. You know, it never even really stormed where it was at. Out of nowhere that came down and it was kind of just one of those freak accidents,� .
“I never would have dreamed that we’d of been running down the river and out of nowhere we get struck by lightning,�  “It is definitely something that you need to take seriously.�
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