Father, Son Killed by Lightning 48 Years Apart

Dad killed fishing, son at a barbeque
By Mary Papenfuss,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 14, 2011 4:20 AM CDT
Father, Son Killed by Lightning 48 Years Apart
Lightning Strike   (©Brian Papantonio)

The last thing Stephen Rooney said was: "Don't worry, lightning never strikes twice." It did, killing Rooney at a New Jersey barbeque almost 48 years to the day after it struck dead his father on a fishing trip. Rooney, 54, and a cousin were both struck as they stepped away from a family gathering to smoke cigars near a tree, reports NBC Philadelphia. The cousin survived the hit, but Rooney died five days after he was struck. (More Stephen Rooney stories.)

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