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SALT LAKE CITY -- 12-year-olds David Rayborn and Sean Smith were struck by lightning Wednesday as they were trying to get to shelter during a sudden hail and lightning storm, killing David. On Saturday, Sean talked about what he remembered from being hit and how he tried to help his friend.
Both David and Sean were best friends; one survived, the other didn't. However, both families feel lucky Sean survived, but both are mourning David's death.
Standing next to his mother, Sean looked remarkable. In fact, he suffered no real injuries after being knocked unconscious by the lightning.
"I had a tingly feeling and a ringing noise in my ears," Sean described.
But lightning is erratic and unpredictable. David Rayborn was standing just a few feet away from Sean when the two were hit.
I had a tingly feeling and a ringing noise in my ears.
–Sean Smith
"I shook him for about two minutes," Sean said. "I kept calling out for help and nobody answered, so I ran to go get help at the camp."
"In our eyes, Sean is a hero," said John LaVell Rayborn, the father of David. "He did everything right to help his friend."
The families of both Sean and David wanted to clear up what they describe as misconceptions about the strike, particularly that Sean and David were alone when they were hit -- that there were no witnesses.
"We are very upset and frustrated with all the miscommunications, beginning at the time when we got the first phone call that David had been struck by lightning," Rayborn said in a public statement Saturday.
Rayborn said his family was told to meet the medical helicopter at the hospital, only to learn once there that their son was not on the flight because he had not survived.
David's family said the 32 hours they waited to see their son's body were agonizing. Now they're planning a funeral to say goodbye to their little boy.
Sean said he received no instruction at camp on what to do in the event of a lightning storm. His mother would like to see that changed for future campers.
"They need someone to sit down with the Boy Scouts when they get to Scofield and say, ‘this is what you do in a lightning storm,' " said Betty Smith, Sean's mother.
I shook him for about two minutes. I kept calling out for help and nobody answered, so I ran to go get help at the camp.
–Sean Smith
Officials said Scout leaders are required to take a hazardous weather training course every two years. The storm that killed David prompted camp staff to activate an emergency evacuation plan, which had to be initiated again later in the morning when a second storm hit.
"David was a wonderful boy -- very outgoing and a friend to everyone," said John LaVell Rayborn.
Both families thanked the medical professionals who worked on the boys, but for David in particular. David's family is especially grateful to the boy's scout leader who was able to perform CPR.
David Rayborn's funeral will be held Tuesday July, 19th at 12:00 p.m. at an LDS chapel, 601 E. Mansfield, in South Salt Lake. A viewing will be held Monday at the McDougal Funeral Home, 4330 S Redwood Rd, Salt Lake City.
If you would like to donate to the Rayborn family, an account has been created at Utah First Credit Union under the name: Connie Rayborn, #10 David Rayborn.
*KSL.com has not verified the accuracy of the information provided with respect to the account nor does KSL.com assure that the monies deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account you should consult your own advisors and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
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Written by Sarah Dallof with contributions from Ladd Brubaker.
