A New Jersey man died a hero over the weekend after he was struck by lightning while trying to warn kids of an impending thunderstorm.
Patrick Dispoto’s girlfriend recalled how he insisted on returning to the Seaside Park beach to warn a group of children about the lightning storm leaving her in safety inside their parked car.
“He said, ‘I’ll be right back.’ And I said, ‘You have no business going back.’ He says, ‘I’m just going to warn these kids because the sky is gonna open. I’m just going to warn these kids. One minute.’ And I said, ‘No,’.”
The 59-year-old never returned after he was struck by lightning; The worried girlfriend returned to the beach looking for him to find him face down in the sand.
She and passersby tried to save Dispoto’s life, administering CPR while waiting for first responders to arrive.
“The doctor said, ‘45 minutes after a brain has no oxygen, you have to unplug it.’ And I said, ‘No, no, you can’t help?’” the grieving woman said.
Following Sunday’s tragedy, she now wants people to know that Dispoto never missed a chance to help others.
“So, his last act of heroism was his ultimate. That’s my Patrick Dispoto.”
