Lightning bolt kills boy,17, in horrific freak accident

A 17-year-old Louisiana teenager was killed after being hit by a lighting bolt in a freak accident during a powerful storm. Colton Gauge Honeycutt was struck while standing on top of a deer stand on Saturday evening in Wheldon, the Union Parish Sheriff's Office reported.

Authorities rushed to the scene at around 8.30pm local time, after repots emerged of an injured person needing help in the remote woodland. Officers found Honeycutt severely injured inside the tall stand, used by deer hunters to get a better view of the surrounding area. The teenager was pronounced dead at the scene and an investigation was subsequently launched into his tragic death.

Family and friends took to social media to express their shock and grief at his untimely death.

His cousin Kaylee Trichell described him as someone who "was always there for people with arms open wide no matter what."

"Many of y'all might know Colton for his big heart, his passion for baseball, hunting, and his amazing personality," Trichell wrote on Facebook.

"He always knew how to make people laugh, and so much more Colton was always there for people with arms open wide no matter what. Colton always had a big smile on his face and was such a happy person."

Casey Honeycutt - a member of the family - posted an image of what appeared to be the young man driving a vehicle and wrote: "Until I see you again podnuh, I'll be riding shotgun. I love you Colton Gauge!"

In an official statement, the Sheriff's Office described the youngster's death as "an unimaginable loss" and said their thoughts and prayers were with his family.

John Jensenius, a lightning safety specialist with the National Lightning Safety Council said, told the Miami Herald that his death was the twentieth lighting fatality this year in the US but the first in Louisiana.

"Since 2006, there have now been a total of 8 lightning fatalities linked to hunting, 5 of which have occurred in the last two months," he added.

Lightning typically has 300 million volts and around 30,000 amps rushing through it, according to the National Weather Service.

"In comparison, household current is 120 Volts and 15 Amp," the agency added.