A man was likely struck by lightning in North Stonington on Thursday afternoon.
The victim was standing in a cattle barn and leaning on a metal separator at the North Stonington Fairgrounds when there was a huge crack of thunder, according to the fire marshal, George Brennan.
The man collapsed and was knocked unconscious. He gained consciousness relatively quickly, Brennan said.
The electrical system in the cattle barn was not damaged and it appears the man was struck by lightning, Brennan said.
Emergency crews took the man to Westerly Hospital in Rhode Island to be treated. The extent of his injuries were not known, according to Brennan.
The North Stonington Agricultural Fair was canceled Thursday night due to the weather forecast. Brennan said the cancellation of the fair was not due to the lightning incident, but was rather due to the conditions of the fairgrounds after the rain. It will resume on Friday.
