November 2019 | Vol. 6 Iss. 11
FREE
LIGHTNING STRIKE VICTIM
LIFESAVERS HONORED BY UNIFIED FIRE AUTHORITY By Carl Fauver | carlf@mycityjournals.com
O
n her way to being elected Taylorsville High School homecoming queen several weeks ago, Chloe Robinson, 17, was asked a silly question by the selection committee about how she eats her Oreos. They missed a good opportunity to offer up more interesting queries. Some that come to mind: What does it feel like to be struck by lightning? When did you learn your father was even more injured than you? What would you like to say to the people who immediately sprang into action and likely saved your life? Ironically, on Sept. 20 — the night Chloe was introduced at the THS homecoming game as queen — was three months to the day after she and her father Scott, 44, were in the wrong place at the wrong time. And Sept. 20 was also two days after four of the people who helped save their lives were honored for their heroism at the Taylorsville City Council meeting by the Unified Fire Authority. “It’s not just about being in the right place at the right time; it’s about having good training and skills,” UFA Assistant Chief Jay Ziolkowski said. “To have someone struck by lightning is rare to begin with. Then to have trained people nearby to render aid is even more rare. I have never seen an instance like this in my career.” A 26-year firefighting veteran, Ziolkowski presented certificates of commendation to Andy Keys, Dave Kotter, Mary Ann Marchant and Andrew Nelson. They were among some 15 adult supervisors and 50 to 60 youth on a Church of Jesus
Lightning strike victims Scott and Chloe Robinson pose before one of the helicopters that flew them from Fillmore to Salt Lake. (Courtesy Robinson family)
Christ of Latter-day Saints overnight campout at the historic Territorial Statehouse State Park Museum in Fillmore. The Youth Conference outing included members of the Westland-West Jordan Stake Seventh, Eighth and Ninth wards. “It was the most terrifying experience of my life, but to see the miracles come out of it was a beautiful thing,” said Westland Ninth Ward Bishop Andy Keys, one of the four honorees. “It had been raining earlier but seemed to be clearing,
as people were playing various outdoor games. All of a sudden, I heard a sonic boom — the most terrifying noise in my life. It felt like someone had slapped my face. Every inch of it was in pain. Then I saw two lifeless bodies on the ground. When I ran to them, their eyes were going a million miles an hour, back and forth.” Marchant and Nelson gave CPR to Scott Robinson, while Kotter cleared Chloe’s throat Continued page 9
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